Fed: Katter says sugar industry collapsing en masse

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2004
Fed: Katter says sugar industry collapsing en masse

Federal Independent MP BOB KATTER says the sugar industry is collapsing.

And he says the economies of local communities that rely on canegrowers will be devastated
following Australia's failure to include sugar in the free trade deal with the United
States.

Mr KATTER has told the Nine Network one sugar company has already closed, another one
could close this year, and another two are close behind.

He says people are getting letters from the banks and are in dire mode.

He says a lot of them can switch over to cattle, but that will devastate the economies
of their communities.

Mr KATTER says 40,000 people are involved in the sugar industry in Australia -- about
the same size as the car industry.

AAP RTV sm/jmt

KEYWORD: TRADE US KATTER (CANBERRA)

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