Dear Member,

The General Meeting will be held:

• Date: Friday, 26 April, 2024
• Time: 3.30 pm
• Location: The Savoy Room, Hotel Rydges Southbank, 23 Palmer Street, South Townsville 4810.

Afternoon tea on arrival at 3.00pm and food/dinner will be provided following the General Meeting.

RSVP:   4.00 pm Wednesday 24th April 2023

Business to be conducted:

• Motion* – To adopt the proposal for unification arrangements between the Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables Ltd and the Australian Cane Farmers Association Ltd, with effect 29 April 2024
• Motion* – To approve arrangements to operate during the transitional period commencing 29 April 2024, including alternate operation of some Rules in Company Constitution
• Motion* – To approve changes to the company constitution, with effect 29 April 2024
• Motion* – To note the proposed organisational chart

*The passing of the above motions will be subject to the passing of related motions at the General Meeting of ACFA being held concurrently with the QCAR General Meeting.

An Explanatory Memorandum will be circulated in coming days.

Voting by Proxy

As there are Special Resolutions to change the Company’s Constitution and to adopt transitional arrangements, a proxy form is available upon request (from the office or by email) if you are unable to attend the General Meeting. The proxy form duly executed must be returned to the office (by post, email or in person as listed above) no later than 4.00 pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Stephen Ryan

Company Secretary

Australian Cane Farmers Association Limited

Angry cane growers from around the state will travel to Brisbane this week to confront the owner of the Queensland’s sugar terminals over its plans to become an unregulated monopoly asset owner/operator.

Queensland’s farmers have long trusted the operations of the bulk sugar terminals to the industry-owned not-for-profit Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL). However, earlier this year STL announced, without consultation or support from industry and its grower shareholders, that it would attempt to terminate these arrangements, and seek to take to take a stranglehold over these vital pieces of infrastructure.

Bulk Sugar Terminal Working Group Chairman Don Murday said growers around the state had united against the plan, which they say leaves them at the mercy of an asset owner focused on maximizing shareholder profits rather than supporting the Queensland sugar industry.

“Since the terminals’ inception, QSL and its predecessor have managed the terminals on behalf of industry on a cost-recovery basis only, meaning they don’t extract a profit or margin from this service, helping to minimise operating costs for the cane growers and sugar millers using them,” he said.

“In contrast, STL is a listed company primarily focused on profits for its shareholders, rather than the best interests of our state’s sugar industry, but we have nowhere else to go for these services.

“Queensland’s multi-billion-dollar Queensland raw sugar export industry is completely reliant on these monopoly assets, and so we’re fish in a barrel. The only safeguard we have is oversight provided by our industry not-for-profit operating these facilities to minimise costs and ensuring that there is agreement with STL on budgets, expenditure and operating plans.”

Mr Murday dismissed STL claims that the insourcing move would reduce costs. “Let’s not pretend that insourcing is some kind of cost-saving initiative. STL has already increased their storage and handling costs by 41% since 2018 while QSL has operated the terminals under a flat budget during that time and the amount of sugar passing through the terminals has fallen. It’s not hard to see what’s going to happen when STL takes over operations as well.”

“There was no industry consultation prior to this insourcing announcement and STL has refused requests to meet with us or to hold their AGM in a region where their grower shareholders could easily attend, so we’ve had to travel to Brisbane to share our concerns.

“It’s appalling corporate behaviour on every level, but if they think that they can patronise us and tell us it is for the best without engaging with their grower shareholders and presenting a compelling business case, they are mistaken.”

The STL AGM will be held at level 28 of the Riparian Plaza, Brisbane, at 2pm Wednesday 22 November 2023.

– ENDS –

Media Contacts

ACFA: Don Murday 0418 774 499

Kalagro: Robert Malaponte 0419 640 523

QCAR: Christian Lago 0414 421 723

Bundaberg Sugar: Guy Basile 0418 887 399

Agforce Cane Ltd: Russell Hall 0427 827212

Townsville, Burdekin and Charters Towers region cane growers, meet your new Regional Area Manager for North Queensland, Glenn Henricksen.

Glenn comes to QRIDA with more than 20 years’ experience in banking, finance and agribusiness, and is committed to helping primary producers succeed with the right financial assistance.

“There are a range of QRIDA grants and loans that could help cane growers get the most value out of their harvest,” he said.

“Whether you’re looking to improve irrigation and efficiency by installing additional water points, invest in biosecurity measures to stop the spread of unwanted pests and diseases, or purchase new equipment to improve productivity, a QRIDA Sustainability Loan could take your primary production business to the next level.

“If you are in the initial years of establishing your primary production enterprise, a QRIDA First Start Loan could help you put succession plans in place or purchase property.” 

QRIDA also has grants of up to $50,000 and loans of up to $250,000 that could help sugarcane farmers prepare, manage, recover and mitigate the impacts of drought.

Glenn is filling the role while Elizabeth Bajcetic is on maternity leave.

Call Glenn on 0408 180 644 and arrange a time to meet on-farm to find out how QRIDA’s financial assistance could help your primary production business.