Wilmar, MSF Defy Industry Will

By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

The Australian sugar industry has long prided itself on resilience, innovation and a sense of collective purpose. However, recent events at the industry owned, not for profit, Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) Annual General Meeting have cast a shadow over this reputation, sparking outrage across cane communities and industry stakeholders alike.

QSL has long served as the central marketing body for Queensland’s sugar exports, acting as an intermediary between growers, mills, and international buyers.
The actions of Wilmar Sugar and MSF Sugar in voting down critical constitutional reforms for QSL have drawn widespread condemnation from growers who form the backbone of the sugar industry, alongside Industry bodies and other milling companies alike.

Highlighting Wilmar and MSF being out of step with the rest of the industry, the three other milling companies using their vote - that being our very own Mackay Sugar Ltd, as well as Bundaberg Sugar and Isis Sugar - all sided with the growers to support the changes. But, alas, Wilmar and MSF voted down the aspirations of the wider industry.  It is great to see that the three supportive millers have the vision and whole-of-industry approach to the future of the Queensland sugar industry, rather than pursuing individual corporate agendas and controls.

These constitutional changes would have made QSL’s internal voting structure more reflective of the current marketing situation in the Queensland sugar industry, not that of the late 1990s when initial structure was created under what was basically a single desk marketing system.  Fast forward to the present, and we now have Wilmar Sugar and MSF who, amongst others, who are competitors to QSL yet, anachronistically and inappropriately, still have a major voice and vote in the structure and governance of an industry-owned business.

Last week’s crucial vote on proposed changes to QSL’s constitution represented a watershed moment for the future of Queensland’s sugar industry.

The reforms, designed to modernise the QSL structure, enhance transparency, and ensure fairer representation for those who market their sugar through QSL, were widely regarded as essential steps towards a more equitable and competitive future.  Yet the two multinational millers, Wilmar and MSF still believe that they have a moral right to influence an industry owned competitor modernising its governance to suit the current environment.

They have effectively stifled the voices of growers and other millers, perpetuating a status quo that limits competition and innovation. This self-serving stance risks eroding trust and cooperation within the industry, potentially driving a wedge between stakeholders at a time when unity is more critical than ever.  By blocking these changes, Wilmar and MSF have sent a concerning signal about their commitment to openness and fair play.

The sugar industry is a vital part of Queensland’s economy and rural communities, employing thousands and supporting countless local businesses. For the sector to thrive, stakeholders must work together—not against one another—to build a fair, transparent, and inclusive future. The actions of Wilmar and MSF in voting down QSL’s constitutional reforms have been widely condemned as short-sighted and self-serving, undermining the principles of democracy and collaboration upon which the sugar industry has built itself.

As the dust settles, it is imperative that all parties return to the negotiating table with a genuine commitment to reform and a willingness to put the interests of growers and regional communities first. Only by working together can the industry hope to secure a brighter, more sustainable future for Queensland’s sugar heartland.

In the end, history will judge those who chose to stand in the way of progress. The path forward may be fraught with challenges, but the determination and integrity shown by those supporting reform offer hope that the true spirit of Queensland’s sugar industry will prevail.

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