The sugar industry is vital to the economy of Cairns and Far North Queensland. The flow on jobs not directly linked to sugar production are also impacted, such as happened with the Babinda mill closure.
Year after year the Australian industry has to struggle against the unfair World Trade Organisation processes and Free Trade Agreements successive governments have lumbered us with. Now the European Commission is going to shaft us again by breaching their WTO contracts for a second time in two years and flood the sugar market with their excess sugar, which they subsidise. This creates a glut on the world market and pushes prices down. Subsidised European producers don't feel the pinch, as they're subsidised, but Australian farmers playing by the rules and subject to market prices for survival lose out big time.
What makes it even worse is that Australia contributes financially to the organisations involved in the European bail out. So in a nutshell, our sugar producers are struggling to make a living and are paying taxes which our government is giving to those people who have decided not to play by the rules, for a second time in two years, so they can shaft us and destroy our sugar industry. Meanwhile we have to keep playing by the rules and copping it sweet because our government is too gutless to stand up and speak out.
The party that previously used to look after primary producers should hang their heads in shame. How can you walk down the street and look these people in the eye?
Katter's Australia Party will speak out on this travesty that will cost FNQ jobs. Our Federal govt needs to speak up or review the rules by which we are subject and apply the same to these subsidised imports. Our Federal govt. must demand that the WTO call on the European Commission to adhere to their contracts or what is the point of having them?
We continue to punch above our weight, but you can't win with two hands and two feet tied behind your back.
here is the link-
http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/sugar/general/eu-to-breach-wto-sugar-commitments-again/2371101.aspx?src=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_content=news&utm_source=RoamMedia
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