I also think a $25 million dollar handout at taxpayer expense is not the way to go but the industry is far too important to let go under.
The $25 million should be raised on the basis of equity in CCA in the form of shares not a gift. These could be sold off down the track when the company is back on its feet.
The Future Fund would be better off investing in Australian Food Security than American tobacco in my opinion.
The government has to clamp down on labelling to show exactly what is the "actual country of origin". Who knows where the generic supermarket brands are sourced (probably the cheapest overseas tender). The average housewife thinks there still Australian made and a cheap buy.
The dumping of Italian tomatoes into Oz cheaper than we can grow them has wiped out the local tomato lines yet nothing is done because they are cheap.
A bargain is not a bargain if its inferior in quality - eg: Chinese tin peaches contaminated with lead. (Their quality control is not up to scratch).
Being from Shepparton, HW is spot on when she says the SPC store is locally owned.
Some people look but don't see.
Well over half the store is devoted to SPC & other local products.
Come on guys buy Australian and the money stays in the country.
Cheers,
John
The real lowdown on the SPC Admona Enterprise Agreement
(lists some of the aspects on the Enterprise Agreement.
Up to 20 days of unused sick leave is paid out when an employee leaves the company;
Only recent employees are limited to one year pay on redundancy/severance all others (and this will be virtually all of them) can receive up to 104 weeks pay (4 weeks for each year of service) and for very some very long term employees, the figure is even higher;
And wait for this there is a loading on the lump sum according to the age of the employee, starting from aged 50;
SPC Ardmona is a union shop, with the company agreeing to a union representative attending induction and agreeing to encourage union membership;
There are 8 union reps on site (shop stewards) and they are entitled to 5 days paid leave to attend trade union training. They can also undertake union business on company time;
Overtime is paid at pretty much standard rates it would seem eg. time and a half on Saturdays (so much for Barries assertion there);
And wait for this, the workers receive a Rostered Day Off every month;
And then there are ridiculous allowances, such a having a first aid certificate, container allowance, bright can allowance (I am not making this up), wet place allowance, cold allowance;
Annual leave looks excessive 28 days, compared with the norm of 20 days, with leave loading paid for the full period;
Compulsory income protection insurance (a union racket for which the company pays part of the premium)
If you dont want to believe that read the full EB agreement here.