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Thursday, 20 June 2013
Page: 6501

Sugar Industry

Debate resumed on the motion:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Australian sugar industry is one of the world's most efficient and innovative producers and exporters of sugar and the leader in the adoption of sustainable farming practices;

(b) Australia is the third largest exporter of sugar in the world;

(c) there are some 6,000 cane growers in Australia with more than 4,000 farms growing sugar that operate along Australia's eastern seaboard; and

(d) the sugar industry directly and indirectly supports 40,000 jobs in Australia, underpinning the economic stability of many coastal communities, and is the social fabric that has woven itself through the development of coastal townships up and down the coast; and

(2) expresses concern about claims that sugar is 'toxic'; and

(3) rejects calls for a tax based on the content of sugar in a particular food product.

The SPEAKER: The question is that the motion by the member for Dawson be agreed to.

Question agreed to.