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 effects of multinational manipulation of the industry 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. 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 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.

 

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 effects of multinational manipulation of the industry 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. 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 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.