Mackay sugarcane growers are hoping a swell of international pressure will force India to scrap its grower subsidies once the WTO hands down its decision. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said he expected the second round of the global hearing to start by the end of February or early March. It is understood the World Trade Organisation may take months to reach its final verdict against India, which Australia has accused of illegally breaching international trade rules. Foreign Affairs and Trade Department s Ravi Kewalram said the Indian government had subsidised production by 109 per cent in 2018-19, far above the WTO limit of 10 per cent.
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Subscriber only Mackay sugarcane farmers are hoping negotiations can unlock more than 500 million extra global consumers for their exports. Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan met with some of the who s who of sugar at a shed talk on Tuesday to discuss the government s ambitious plans. Canegrowers Queensland chairman Paul Schembri meeting with Dawson MP George Christensen and Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan at a shed talk on Tuesday. In the background are Canegrowers Mackay deputy chairman Anthony (Tony) Ross and Erakala sugarcane farmer Andre Camilleri. Picture: Heidi Petith We are in the midst of two pretty important free trade agreement negotiations at the moment - one with the United Kingdom and one with the European Union, Mr Tehan said.
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Subscriber only Queensland s sugarcane industry is mourning a man who led growers through one of the most turbulent periods in its history. Fred Soper, a Marian region grower, died peacefully at Mirani on Friday night aged 86. He is survived by his wife Nola, four children, 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Mr Soper was the Queensland Canegrowers chairman from 1982 to 1989. He began his career representing fellow growers when he was elected to Marian Mill Suppliers Committee in 1964. He later served as Canegrowers Mackay chairman from 1979 to 1989 and, in 1982, became one of the youngest men to lead the organisation at a state level.
Premium Content Forget Christmas in July - this Christmas we re rewinding back to July. And what a month it was, from businesses still experiencing pandemic woes, Whitsundays being earmarked for military bases and space stations and fresh Keswick Island disputes. Here s the top headlines in Mackay in July 2020. Mackay War Memorial Pool Community Action Group committee members (from left): Jane Conlon, Carol Single, Sue Willett and Graham Townsend with VC recipient Keith Payne (centre) at the front of the Memorial Swimming Centre which has just received state heritage listing. Picture: Heidi Petith MACKAY S oldest pool has been given a lifeline after being declared an official State Heritage listing.
A potentially fatal flaw in a $150 million road safety upgrade could be putting farmers and fellow motorists in danger. Canegrowers Mackay has said the Walkerston Bypass Access project had an intersection that was an accident waiting to happen .
Chairman Kevin Borg said the designs would force large cane farming vehicles to use a staggered T-intersection to traverse the Walkerston Bypass in both directions. Mr Borg said an investigation by engineers on behalf of growers had found the road design failed to consider the increased volume of farm traffic at harvest season, from June to December. In the six-month crushing period alone, an estimated 220 trips per day, 22 vehicles per hour, will use the intersection to cross the bypass, Mr Borg said.