Jack D.
The Goulburn
Valley agricultural area is in deep trouble.
The regional city of
Shepparton is surrounded by dairy farms, orchards, some sheep and cropping plus
smaller operations like poultry, pigs and so on. It is an irrigation area where
water is a big issue. The shopping precinct shows just how bad things are with
over one hundred shops closed, empty.
The Australian
fruit industry does not compete on a level playing field in domestic or export
markets. For example, the tariffs applied by China and the EU on imports are,
on average 20%, while tariffs applied by Australia are 5% or zero depending on
the source of the imports.
Given the fact
that Coca-Cola Amatil now own SPC Ardmona, the regional cannery, the overriding
interest is profit. As it is in the interests of the multinationals in general,
and in the interests of manipulating Australia to allow greater and greater
penetration of our markets by foreign cheap goods, a bit of hurt to one of
their own (Coke Amatil) is tolerable. Is this a part of the softening up
process of the people of Australia prior to forcing the Trans Pacific
Partnership Free Trade Agreement on us?
The resulting cut
to the fruit intake at the cannery means growers will be reduced to about half
the normal amount of fruit. A significant number have been told they will not
be able to send their pears in at all. Depending on what other fruit they may
have, they may be forced to leave the industry or go broke.
The showgrounds
rally
The effects of
multinational manipulation of the Australian are the underlying cause for the
recent rally organised by orchardist Teena Knight and SPC Ardmona (SPC A)
worker and union member Lee Luvara. Both are among many who are dependent on
fruit growing for their livelihood.
Facing the ever
tightening financial situation, Teena and Lee with others organised a protest
rally (above). At that rally, the desperation of the people of that area was palpable.
It was obvious they are between a rock and a hard place. But let them speak for
themselves.
Prior to the
rally, Teena Knight said, “We need to band together to support the canners, the
struggling suppliers and workers. We need to support each other. Bringing the
fruit industry back to life will, in turn, keep our town alive.” She had said
she hoped the meeting would be well attended. She was not to be disappointed.
Over 1500 attended at very short notice.
Lee Luvara, the
co-organiser of the rally, who is an employee of about 18 years with the company
said, “At peak times we can have up to 1200 people come through SPC Ardmona as
part of our seasonal workforce. If we see a reduction in the labour required,
that means a reduction in income for the local small businesses.”
Lee also wants
people to buy the Australian grown product more often. He said, “I’d ask people
to think about the quality of what’s in that tin, and then to think about SPC
Ardmona and the people behind it. That’s why we’re asking people to toss a (SPC
A) tinnie in their shopping trolley.”
Lee also made it
clear this was not the last people will hear about SPC Ardmona and that this
(kind of struggle) will go national because of many small towns and industries
across Australia.”
Orrevale grower
Chain Sangha comes from generations of Indian farmers. The decision by SPCA to
cut off his pear allocation could be the end. He couldn’t bear to watch last
week as 400 of his canning pear trees were ripped out. After 18 years, and
reaching the status of “gold” supplier, he was told his pears were no longer
wanted. He said, “They might take some apricots and apples. They didn’t promise
this. I don’t know what they are going to do.”
When a primary
producer faces this situation and their produce is no longer viable as an
income source, it is not simply like someone just losing their job, as serious
as a job loss is. They lose their means of livelihood, future earnings, their
home, their lifestyle, their provision for their old age, their children’s
inheritance, their self-esteem and often their health and relationships.
At the rally there
were other speakers, the mayor Jenny Houlihan, Bob Katter from Queensland (above) among
them. Bob displayed a good understanding of the problems of foreign imports
harming Australian agriculture and industry, has an understanding of the role
of trade unions and is, within his class understanding of things, willing to
work with all those willing to struggle for the interests of the Australian
people. He was very good in the struggle to stop the privatisation of Telstra.
We can expect many
more such struggles to be an ongoing thing across Australia both in industry
and in agriculture, in regional towns and cities and in the capital cities as
the push to get the TPPA passed by government intensifies. Should that ever be
passed, this current level of struggle will seem like a tea party compared to
what may yet be forced upon us.
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