Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes the disallowance motion. The coalition government delivered a mandatory sugar code of conduct to support dealing with sugar mills in time for the June 2017 crush. The coalition government introduced a code following a listening tour of growers in North Queensland to assist growers, mills and marketers dealing with disputes. The code came into immediate effect in April following months of protracted negotiations between growers, mills and sugar marketers.

Farmers have welcomed the code, which has had a positive impact on the industry, with all growers able to sign agreements prior to commencement of the 2017 crush. The new code guarantees growers choice in marketer as well as providing precontract arbitration between mill owners and marketers and between canegrowers and mill owners if an agreement cannot be reached.