Ongoing concerns about the safety of eating fish caught in Gladstone Harbour, central Queensland, have led the owners of the city’s largest fish market to refuse fish caught in the harbour. This is despite government agencies in Queensland suggesting that the fish pose no health risk. Last week, the Queensland Government lifted a three-week fishing ban it had previously imposed on the harbour last week. At the time, Queensland Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace claimed the results of a water quality... ...Read more »

A report released today by the Queensland Government predicts the State’s milk production will fall by 5 per cent for the year 2011/12. The report attributes the impacts of natural disaster recovery and the supermarket ‘milk war’ to estimated low production levels. According to the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) report, the gross value of milk production in the State of Queensland for 2011-12 is forecast at A$229 million, 5% lower than the final estimate... ...Read more »

Foreign investors continue to target Australia’s lucrative sugar industry, as Chinese-owned Tully Sugar Limited vies with Singapore-based conglomerate Sucrogen to purchase Queensland’s Proserpine Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited (PCSMA). The PCSMA, a co-operative sugar mill that is wholly-owned by 214 sugarcane suppliers, is Australia’s fifth-largest raw sugar mill. Tully Sugar Limited, which is owned by the China Oil and Food Company (COFC), already produces raw sugar for export... ...Read more »

Queensland’s Opposition party, the Liberal National Party (LNP), has demanded that the State of Queensland double its food production by 2040. LNP Leader Campbell Newman today launched a long term agricultural strategy which positions Queensland as part of the solution to a predicted global world food crisis. Mr Newman said, “There isn’t a long term plan for agriculture in Queensland and our extensive consultation with the sector found that producers and industry groups want government... ...Read more »

Queensland’s largest flour mill and only durum semolina mill, owned by Weston Milling, has recommenced production after an extensive rebuild that followed the devastating Brisbane floods in January 2011. The mill, located at Moorooka in Brisbane since 1954, is of strategic importance to Weston Milling’s supply of flour for domestic and international markets. Weston Milling produces a range of flours to make bread, cakes, biscuits, pastry, noodles. The company’s customers range from large Australian... ...Read more »

Random audits by the Fair Work Ombudsman have revealed that more than one-quarter of non-franchised take-away outlets in Queensland food courts are not complying with workplace laws. Fair Work is the government agency responsible for Australia’s workplace rights and rules, including awards and employment standards. Fair Work checked the record-keeping, pay-slip practices and minimum pay rates of 128 food court businesses in Queensland in the past year, following a rise in complaints from workers... ...Read more »

Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin today launched a food policy for Queensland to further build the state’s multi-billion dollar food industry. “As part of the 2011-12 State Budget, the Queensland Government has made an initial allocation of $2 million to support initiatives related to the policy,” Minister Mulherin said. “With Queensland’s food value chain worth $18.7 billion to the state economy and a workforce of around 267,000, it’s critical... ...Read more »

This week Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin, Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan and AgForce President Brent Finlay will visit Karumba, Normanton and Burketown to meet with the local community and discuss recent flood events. Mr Mulherin said there has been significant flooding throughout the Lower Gulf region since December last year. “On top of the ordinary wet season the communities of Karumba, Normanton and Burketown were also affected by excessive rainfall following... ...Read more »

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin said today the longstanding and valuable relationship between Australia and the Republic of Korea will benefit Queensland’s food producers. “2011 is the Year of Friendship between Australia and the Republic of Korea,” Mr Mulherin said. “The Year of Friendship recognises and celebrates 50 years of trade and friendship between the two countries. “This is a great opportunity to continue to grow our relationship here in Queensland... ...Read more »

Foodbank, Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation, had its resources put to the test in recent months in the face of the natural disasters in Queensland and Victoria.However, the charity said that outstanding support from food and grocery industry partners played a valuable role in the response effort, ensuring food and other household supplies were and continue to be available wherever and whenever they are most needed. Only days into the New Year, a call for help was made to Foodbank’s... ...Read more »