We are the voice for change for the Australian sugar manufacturing sector

Queensland’s sugarcane industry has welcomed the Federal Government’s move to kickstart a national biofuels industry, declaring the state is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in clean energy and regional job creation.

The Government’s new ten-year Cleaner Fuels Program commits $1.1 billion “to help unlock the vast economic opportunities on offer from low carbon liquid fuels” such as biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

“The government must be commended for grabbing this once-in-a-generation opportunity with both hands,” ASM CEO Ash Salardini.

The Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into bioenergy from sugar is set to visit sugar manufacturing facilities near Mackay and Townsville this week, kicking of a process that could be a defining moment in the development of Queensland’s biofuels and bioenergy sector.

The site visits, led by the Queensland Parliament Primary Industries and Resources Committee, will showcase the immense potential of sugar manufacturing to power a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Queensland.

“This isn’t just a tour—it’s the beginning of a transformation,” said Mr Ash Salardini, CEO of Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM). “The regions in and around Mackay, the Burdekin, Ingham and Townsville are uniquely positioned to lead Queensland’s bioenergy revolution.”

“Food and fibre manufacturing is by far the largest component of Australia’s manufacturing sector, and it’s overwhelmingly based in regional Australia,” said Mr Ash Salardini, CEO of ASM. “If we’re serious about having a manufacturing base in this country, we must supercharge these industries and seize emerging opportunities in low-carbon liquid fuels and bioenergy.” Like other trade-exposed manufacturers, Australia’s sugar producers are facing mounting global pressures, particularly depressed prices driven by heavy subsidies and protectionist policies in competing sugar-producing nations. “Our competitors aren’t playing by the rules of free trade – they’re propping up their sugar industries with heavy subsidies and domestic protections. And the reality is, it’s only getting worse.”

The Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) welcomes the release of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Growing Australia’s Bioeconomy report. The report provides an R&D roadmap to establish a substantial biomanufacturing capability in Australia, taking sugar from paddock to powerhouse.

“Australian sugar manufacturers can establish world leading capabilities in bioenergy, biofuels, and biomaterials, while continuing to be a globally significant producer of sugar,” Mr Ash Salardini, CEO of ASM said.

“As an example, we can provide 500,000 homes with renewable baseload electricity by leveraging our biomass and can provide between 30-40% of the liquid fuel needs of domestic aviation.”

The Queensland Government has answered calls from the Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into capturing bioenergy opportunities from Queensland’s sugar industry.

The Hon Tony Perrett MP, Minister for Primary Industries, has confirmed that the proposed inquiry has been formally referred to the Queensland Parliament Primary Industries and Resources Committee, chaired by Mr Stephen Bennett MP.

“The sugar industry can be a powerhouse energy producer through the production of biofuels and renewable baseload electricity. The only way we are going to get there is industry and government working hand in glove to capture these opportunities – this inquiry will provide the pathway to do exactly that,” Mr Ash Salardini, CEO of ASM said.