October 25, 2014
Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce dropped into Kingaroy today to visit two local success stories … Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory and Proteco Gold.
When the CHM Alliance bought out Swickers in 2009 the business was in liquidation following the collapse of part-owner Hans Smallgoods.
Swickers general manager Linchon Hawks told Mr Joyce today there had been a complete turnaround at the business since then, and a change in culture.
This had been achieved with very little change in staff.
Mr Joyce quizzed Mr Hawks on what the government could be doing better to help.
He was told that regulatory requirements, in particular their different interpretation in different States, created pressure but the biggest threat to Swickers would be imports of fresh pork.
Swickers processes an average of 18,500 pigs a week, with 6000 of these being marketed through its sister company Sunpork Fresh. More than 30 truckloads a week carry the rest all over the country.
Mr Joyce and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington then moved on to Proteco Gold to chat with owner Josh Gadischke.
Proteco manufactures a wide range of nut oils and recently expanded to produce refined oils.
Josh Gadischke told Mr Joyce that he had been using the services of Austrade to expand his export sales, and the R&D Offset Tax had been “crucial” in his expansion.
The MPs inspected the oil crushing facility, a peanut butter manufacturing line, bottling plant and storage area.
“Both these businesses, Swickers and Proteco, are great examples of working across the supply-chain and value-adding to products to get better returns at the farmgate for our farmers,” Mr Joyce said.
The Minister used the visits to help promote the Federal Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness Green Paper and Energy Green Paper.
Submissions on the Energy Green paper close on November 4, while submissions on the Agricultural Competitiveness Green Paper close on December 12.
Mr Joyce later joined more than 160 National Party and LNP supporters at a dinner at Kingaroy Town Hall.
