Fed: Truss indicates $600 million rescue package is unrealistic

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2004
Fed: Truss indicates $600 million rescue package is unrealistic

Agriculture Minister WARREN TRUSS has indicated that the federal government is unlikely
to meet canegrowers' demands for a $600 million assistance package.

Sugar farmers pleaded their case to Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD yesterday for a federal
government rescue package to help the industry avoid absolute collapse.

It follows the failure to include sugar in a free trade agreement with the United States.

A government report had suggested inclusion of sugar in the deal would have boosted
the Australian sugar industry by more than $500 million a year.

Farmers are now looking for assistance worth about $600 million.

But Mr TRUSS has told ABC radio that the government has already put $120 million on
the table through the sugar industry package, of which about $25 million has been spent.

And he says the government has indicated a willingness to go beyond this figure, but
$600 million is a very large sum of money.

AAP RTV sm/rh

KEYWORD: SUGAR TRUSS (CANBERRA)

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