Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has recently been contacted by local fruit and vegetable producers from the Cassowary Coast who have lost income from their representing agent.

It is estimated the agent owes local producers over half a million dollars, further supporting Mr Katter’s strong opinion to regulate the industry.

“Here we have another half a million in losses for farmers from an agent – it begs the question, where has the money gone?

"We sent the produce down, the agent sold the produce – where is the money? Could there be anything more unfair than the continuous loss of income that is occurring at least every two or three years?” Mr Katter said.

This most recent farmer loss comes after Mr Katter has on numerous occasions tried to change legislation for the industry.

Mr Katter is calling for there to be a mandatory trust fund set up for the secure transfer of funds owing to the producer.

“When you sell your house or your car, your money is protected by a trust fund, when a farmer sells his fruit and vegetable at a market – the money goes straight into the agents bank account. We need a system in place that protects the income for the producers and their employees.

“Once again we will introduce this legislation in Parliament. We want there to be evidence of sale, with a receipt of sale and for the farmer’s money to go into a trust account,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has urged farmers across Australia to ask their Federal Members of Parliament how they will vote on this legislation.

“The current Government and the ALP have defended actions that are not much better than outright theft and they continue to protect these low life thieves. Currently the LNP is looking after the larger corporate merchants and not the farmers,” Mr Katter said.

This is not the first time a producer has not been paid by an agent – with Mr Katter estimating that over 20 million in revenue has been taken off the Tully, Innisfail, Tableland and Mareeba area in the last 15 or so years.

“This is occurring too often. We roll up another 20 million is losses, while the Government look after the interests of the big fruit and vegetable agents and could not give a damn about the farmers and their employees.”