Warren Truss, Michael McCormack and Peter Dutton,
As a presenter at the Senate Inquiry into Citrus I have read the proof version of Hansard.
It is my firm belief that Lion Nathan who control at least 80% of Australian orange juice paid a bribe of at least $100,000 to reverse a ban on contaminated orange concentrate.
I represent 4,000 signatories on a petition. We want Peter Dutton to be aware of the findings of Diabetes Week. We want Warren, John Cobb, Michael and Peter to curb the influence of Lion Nathan and phase in their processing of at least an additional 200,000 tonnes of Australian juice.
This should include up to 15% of juice grade navel oranges to maximise the benefit to farmers.
To summarise my request to you Warren and to you Michael:
1. What is your measurable plan to save citrus?
2. Are you prepared to use health issues to help save Australian agriculture?
3. Are you prepared to challenge multinational juice manufacturers to phase in up to at least an additional 200,000 tons of Australian oranges per annum.
4. Are you prepared to insist on up to 15% navel oranges for juice which is acceptable but does require some manufacturing adjustments? It is easier to just add carbendazim laced concentrate.
I am prepared to have a debate on this with Warren and Michael at any time.
Brian Mills.
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Open Letter To Barnaby Joyce, Bill Heffernan, Warren Truss, Peter Dutton, Michael McCormack and John Cobb.
Open letter to Barnaby Joyce, Bill Heffernan, Warren Truss, Peter Dutton, Michael McCormack and John Cobb.
Barnaby, because I sent a fax to your economist on 9th July and he has not started to look at the question it would be good to know if he does intend to study the situation or should we look elsewhere?. The question - does agriculture and manufacturing less than 20% of GDP represent a government in paralysis?
Bill, the Senate Inquiry into Citrus in Griffith on 3rd July illustrated why citrus family farming could be destined for oblivion.
Barnaby, because I sent a fax to your economist on 9th July and he has not started to look at the question it would be good to know if he does intend to study the situation or should we look elsewhere?. The question - does agriculture and manufacturing less than 20% of GDP represent a government in paralysis?
Bill, the Senate Inquiry into Citrus in Griffith on 3rd July illustrated why citrus family farming could be destined for oblivion.
Hansard shows that a letter from Catherine King to Nick Xenophon advised that there would be a complete ban on Brazilian concentrate from April 2012. Hansard then there were sprinkles the word “lobbying” throughout the meeting and names were named.
To me, Senate is not likely to provide any hope so a book will be printed in a month. It will feature these exhibits:
1. Graph of Rural Farm Debt showing $17bn growing at $1bn per annum
2. Columns showing agriculture as a percentage of GDP of 3% in 1996, reducing to to 2% in 2011 and 1.2% in 2013
3. Graph showing an apparent inverse relationship between tariffs and farm debt from 1970 to now
Bill, you said that the Inquiry was not the forum for columns showing agriculture reducing from 3% of GDP. Well, the forum will change to newspapers, emails and Social Media.
Bill, Hansard shows you cut me off while I was suggesting that a review of The Lima Declaration was overdue and that it could help citrus by..............
Bill, Hansard shows you cut me off while I was suggesting that a review of The Lima Declaration was overdue and that it could help citrus by..............
Peter, do you think that the ban on contaminated Brazilian concentrate which was due to apply as from April 2012 was based on health concerns?
Warren, Michael and John, we are not holding out much hope with the Senate so our emphasis is now with you when it comes to agriculture. We have these questions:
1, Do you have different figures to suggest for 1. and 2.?
2. Your policies obviously cannot accept our contention for item 3. ,so how do you explain the increase in farm debt to the seemingly unaffordable figures which now apply?
3. What is your plan for saving citrus?
a. Our assessment is that your principal policy appears to be the elimination of the Carbon Tax and the Mining Tax. On our graph of farm Debt this would slightly reduce the slope of the growth of debt since 1970 as shown on our curve.
b. Another plan attributed to you appears to be Truth in Labelling. However, Warren you claimed to have initiated the first legislation. The Senate Inquiry in January 2012 made Recommendation 8 to achieve truth in labelling. Neither are working. What legislation changes are you planning and can you project on our graph (or a graph of your choosing) the timing and extent of the improvement?
c. Another plan you referred to is the lowering of the Australian dollar. This has now started so can you make a projection of changes to a curve.? This projection should be a Work in Progress. Whichever curve you use should already be influenced by the value of the dollar coming off highs.
4. Are you prepared to discuss a plan to consider health issues to assist in saving citrus? Either you or we can involve Peter Dutton. Information accepted by the Senate is available in which Steve McCutcheon the CEO of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) admitted to lobbying being involved. Did he set the levels of carbendazim too high? Some big juice manufacturers and others continue to hide behind the FSANZ to shield the damage they are causing the citrus industry.
6. Perhaps these questions have been answered above but can you anticipate the ever increasing farm debt topping out and what might make it happen?
All, are you prepared to consider:
A. An investigation into who in the Government accepted how much in money and/or favours to reverse the ban. Bill seemed to indicate a range between “Given that there was lobbying—like 'I'll take you out to dinner, Minister,' and “no doubt some lobbyist somewhere got $100,000 out of it.” Your estimates are welcome.
B. An investigation into which multinational juice manufacturer(s) did the lobbying and why. (There are no prizes for suggesting the profit motive due to lower cost but contaminated concentrate).
C. An investigation into the quoted comments relating to Mr. Steve McCutcheon who admitted that there was lobbying. Our assessment is that his implication there is no health risk in drinking carbendazim should be investigated. As we import more and more imported processed food of dubious quality what else can we expect? There is a related question. Can we afford our ever increasing health costs?
Yours faithfully,
Brian Mills,
Representing 4,000 Australians ( and growing nationwide ) who have signed the petition to ban contaminated concentrate.
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