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As urgent talks continued in Kununurra this week, chances of the State Government stepping in and helping the sugar industry were looking slim.
WA Agriculture Minister Kim Chance seemed more interested in defending his government's lack of action on progressing Ord Stage II than the plight of sugar cane growers faced with the possible closure of the mill.
The weekly blowouts in Perth-based government initiatives would have been enough to purchase the sugar mill from Korean-owned CJ Ord Sugar.
Instead the government sent mediator Brad Plunkett up to help talks between growers and CJ Ord Sugar.
It is believed that a proposed buyout package being cobbled together between Ord growers and the Qld-based Maryborough Sugar would need some State Government contribution to go ahead.
CJ Sugar has apparently offered to sell the mill for about $7 million.
Maryborough Sugar was scheduled to meet with Mr Chance today.
Federal Member Barry Haase has slammed Mr Chance for failing Kununurra's sugar industry.
Mr Haase wrote to the Minister last week, asking him to explain why he had remained quiet on the mill's future and why he had not taken action to ensure the growers' future.
He has yet to receive a response.
Mr Haase claimed more than 100 jobs were at risk, if the Koreans close the mill.
"The financial impact on growers will be disastrous, all because of the fumbling of the Minister," Mr Haase said.
"It is disgraceful that the State Government has yet again ignored regional WA, this time to the detriment of the sugar cane industry.
"If he had released the land as promised [Ord Stage II], the Korean owners would not be pulling out.
North West Shadow Minister Ken Baston has called on the Carpenter government to underwrite this season's Kununurra sugar crop, which will rot in the fields if it is not harvested.
"The Government admits that the imminent closure of the Kununurra sugar mill will put growers' futures at risk and could cause serious environmental problems - but Agriculture Minister Kim Chance told Parliament this week they don't know what to do about it," he said.
"I believe the State government should urgently negotiate between the company and growers on the disputed $2 per tonne price differential, and underwrite the crop as a one-off rescue to buy time.
"In my view this would be an investment to ensure sugar remains an option for Ord Stage II, especially as ethanol may prove a viable bi-product," Mr Baston said.
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