Earlier this week, ABGC members had a valuable opportunity to connect directly with Queensland’s Food Farmers’ Commissioner, Charles Burke, during a live webinar hosted by ABGC. The session was open to members’, demonstrating ABGC’s active role in giving growers direct access to policy influencers, ensuring the banana industry’s voice is heard at the highest levels.

Commissioner Charles Burke brings significant industry credibility to the position, being a fourth-generation producer with formal qualifications in economics and business, and leadership experience at AgForce Queensland and the National Farmers Federation. His role is focused on listening to farmers, understanding the challenges they face, and advocating for better outcomes at a government and market level.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

Top Issues Identified by the Commissioner:

• Compliance Overload: The Commissioner described the growing compliance demands on growers as “spiralling out of control,” citing both audit costs and the increasing complexity of overlapping schemes.
• Unbalanced Market Dynamics: Many growers have limited negotiating power with major buyers and are unable to influence pricing or contract terms, particularly those not supplying direct to retail.
• Labour Challenges: Labour availability and compliance with employment and WH&S regulations continue to be major concerns.
• Profitability Pressures: All of these issues tie back to the rising cost of production and the inability to pass on these costs, which threatens farm viability.

What Growers Said

Growers who attended the session raised a number of important points. These included:

• The lack of recognition or return for efforts in sustainability and environmental management.
• A strong sense that overlapping audit requirements (e.g. Freshcare, HARPS, Fair Farms, Sedex) are duplicative, uncoordinated, and often interpreted inconsistently.
• Frustration that some auditors lack practical farm experience, leading to irrelevant or pedantic assessments.
• Questions about whether large corporates running farms at a loss for land-banking purposes are distorting the market.
• Suggestions that national productivity goals will remain unmet unless the compliance burden is urgently addressed.

 Key Messages from Commissioner Burke

• “We need to rationalise quality assurance schemes. One trusted, fit-for-purpose system would save growers time and money.”
• “Retailers are willing to engage—but they need evidence. I can’t act on stories alone.”
• “Without profitability, compliance becomes unmanageable. If growers are in the red, they simply can’t keep up.”

The Commissioner encouraged all growers to submit their concerns and experiences via his anonymous portal, stating this is essential to build a credible case with retailers and government.

Access the anonymous portal here: https://www.offcq.qld.gov.au/report

ABGC’s Compliance and Advocacy Work

ABGC is taking practical steps to ensure grower concerns are heard and taken onboard:

• Supporting Continuation of the Commissioner Role: ABGC will write a formal letter of support to the Queensland Government advocating for the Commissioner role to be extended beyond its current term in September 2025.
• Government Liaison: ABGC continues to raise issues around compliance, market access, and viability with Ministers across relevant portfolios.
• Standards Engagement: ABGC is working directly with standard owners and certification bodies to push for reduced duplication, consistent auditing, and more transparent complaint mechanisms.

Meet Freshcare CEO Jane Siebum – Upcoming Roundtables

As part of our ongoing work, Freshcare CEO Jane Siebum will tour FNQ banana regions in July. Growers will have a chance to speak with her directly at two upcoming ABGC-hosted roundtables:

• Tuesday 8 July – Mareeba Leagues Club, 3–5pm
• Wednesday 9 July – South Johnstone DPI, 10am–12pm

📌 RSVP by Sunday 6 July via your member email or on the Members Portal.

Jane is keen to hear from growers directly and will be observing an audit during her visit to better understand on-the-ground impacts of Freshcare’s evolving standards.