Blogalogue of Random Writings

Margaret Menzel - Katter Sugar Reform Independent

The first name on the ballot paper for the seat of Dawson will be that of Margaret Menzel. She will appear with the word "independent" next to her name.

She has been deeply involved with the Sugar Reform Group, which formed after the Australia - US free trade agreement, which excluded sugar. They ran candidates at the last Queensland state election. Because of the involvement of outspoken politician and supporter, Bob Katter, these sugar reform candidates were called "Katter Independents".

With most major newspapers ignoring minor party candidates, my knowledge of the policies is very limited. From interviews around the time of that state election, it appears that the major focus is on getting subsidies to be provided to sugar farmers and other rural exports.

These subsidies would then allow farmers to earn more while selling into the world market at less than what the farmers get paid. Basically, they want the same kind of deal that they are upset that the Americans have.

Dawson is an ideal target for this group, with sugar being one of the major industries. The sitting member was also the secretary to the trade minister and was partly responsible for the actual agreement and what it's details would contain.

In the absence of further details from the candidate or her supporters (An open invitation to post comments) I have concluded that there appears to be little in the way of broad based policy. The sugar industry is vital to the local area.

There have been people calling on the sugar industry to prepare for growing global competition and to diversify into other crops or to start value adding by using sugar mills for co-generation and paper manufacturing. The co-generation idea is particularly attractive at the moment with the revelation that Queensland is facing electricity shortages in the very near future.

Unless I can locate and study more policy details, there is little likelihood of me supporting this candidate.

posted by Kevin Paine @ 11:15 pm