Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is calling for immediate Federal Government intervention to meet the shortage of molasses and available transport to get molasses shipments to properties, as the drought tightens its grip on graziers and their animals across Queensland.

More than 60 per cent of the state is now in drought, and with no rain forecast the demand for the sugar cane by-product which is being used as an energy supplement for cattle will significantly increase.

Mr Katter is calling on the Federal Government to come to the immediate aid of graziers facing an uncertain future from an industry that is almost at breaking point, by providing financial support to graziers to carry molasses to properties.

“We are in regular contact with numerous graziers across Kennedy and we are being told the same thing – cattle are dying, and unless intervention is taken they will continue to die.

“We have written to the Minister for Agriculture and to the Minister for Defence requesting an urgent meeting on this issue, as graziers struggle to keep their livelihoods and animals alive.

“We are also calling on the Federal Minister for Defence to see if military vehicles can be used to transport life-saving molasses to the cattle properties in the North West,” said Mr Katter.

Mr Katter said a molasses shortage seemed unavoidable with an early end to the Queensland sugar crush expected; significantly increasing the demand for molasses.

“We are calling upon the sugar mills in north Queensland to provide whatever assistance they can, possibly by producing and storing more molasses for domestic use during these exceptional drought periods.

“Urgent action is needed here, from using existing government assets, providing financial assistance to graziers or grants to sugar milling operations to add animal supplement producing plants to their operations.

“Without this support our graziers will continue to helplessly watch their livelihood die and our Australian cattle industry will struggle to survive,” said Mr Katter.