QCAR Calls For Transparent Cane Audit System And Progress On Overdue Cane Analysis Program (CAP)

Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) is calling for transparency in the cane audit system and the continuation of the overdue review of the Cane Analysis Program (CAP).

QCAR Herbert District Committee Deputy Chair Matthew Pappin said exclusionary and anti-competitive practices had crept into the CAP document that governed cane testing in the Herbert district.

This is contrary to a misleading article published in the Hinchinbrook Life on 28 October and submitted by Herbert River District Cane Growers (HRDCG).

QCAR Herbert, Burdekin and Central region representatives visited the Burdekin Cane Audit Services (BCAS)
laboratory at Wilmar Invicta Mill on Monday, 27 October to review operations.

BCAS is a private industry company funded by millers and growers equally and is independently managed by a Board of Directors.

“It was eye-opening to see how open and transparent the cane audit services in the Burdekin are when compared to the Herbert,” he said.

In late 2024, a review of the CAP commenced in response to QCAR identifying the exclusion clauses and anti-competitive practices that had crept into the Herbert document and that the review of the document was well overdue.

QCAR representatives met with the Independent Sugarcane Analysist to review the operations in late 2023.

It came as a big surprise when the Independent Sugarcane Auditor informed QCAR representatives that the Cane
Audit Program for the Herbert had instructions that only Herbert River District Canegrowers (HRDCG) members would be sampled for fibre, unless ‘the Growers’ Bargaining Representative Group represents more than 11% of Cane Delivery Tonnes’. - (source document-CAS:2017).

CCS in the Herbert River district is calculated using a district average fibre level to calculate a grower’s CCS and ultimately their cane payment. Sampling should be conducted on a true random basis by the Independent Sugarcane Auditor.

QCAR Herbert District Committee Chair John Board said it required a unanimous vote by industry bodies to make any changes to the CAP to remove the anti-competitive clauses. The CAP review is now being stalled by one group.

“It’s time now for HRDCG to fall into line and allow all growers’ cane to be sampled for fibre - this is the right thing to do,” Mr Board said.

QCAR/ACL/HCQR grower collectives have united to get over the 11% threshold for fibre in 2025/2026; however,  growers on individual contracts and mill cane are still being excluded.

QCAR is seeking the BCAS model to be replicated in all Wilmar regions, ensuring strong governance and procedures for the industry to adhere to.

“It’s time for open, transparent cane audit processes that are of a high quality and standard to be reinstated in the Herbert, while ensuring all sectors of the industry are being financially rewarded appropriately,” Mr Board said.

QCAR Herbert District Committee issued an invitation to HRDCG to join the tours; however, this was declined.

Mr Board said all attendees were appreciative of the time of BCAS and Wilmar staff for the opportunity to tour the laboratory and Invicta Mill.