The State Government has announced the appointment of an interim Food Farmers’ Commissioner.
On Wednesday 25 September, Charles Burke was appointed to the position after working within the agribusiness and service-focused enterprises for more than two decades.
His experience included time as the chief executive officer of AgForce Queensland and the Queensland Transport and Logistics Council.
Mr Burke was a former vice president of the National Farmers Federation and as a former co-chair of the Queensland Government Drought Program Review. He also helped to establish drought program reform.
The commissioner role was introduced to provide a point of contact for matters affecting farmers, give farmers advice in supporting their relationships with supermarkets and advise the government on arrangements across supermarkets and their suppliers.
The supermarket pricing select committee recommended the position be created and the State Government accepted all eight recommendations.
Mr Burke said he was glad to start his first day in the new role in Bundaberg.
“Bundaberg has traditionally and historically been well renowned for its agricultural and horticultural produce so I’m very pleased to be here,” Mr Burke said.
“I’m also honoured that the Queensland Government has put its faith in me to be the first food farmers commissioner for Queensland and to attempt to navigate a pathway through this very challenging environment.”
He said he believed this was a remarkable opportunity to improve price transparency and provide a safe environment for farmers’ complaints to be heard and acted on.
When asked if he was shocked by price gouging used by supermarkets, Mr Burke said after his involvement in the original set up of the food grocery code, he has faced so many different issues that nothing surprises him anymore.
“Some of these issues have been in our line of sight for many years,” Mr Burke said.
“Now that it’s more open and there’s more publicity and understanding of it, the challenge is to put in place processes to remedy those things.”
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge and getting started in this new exciting role.”
Mr Burke joined Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner and supermarket pricing select committee chair and Bundaberg MP Tom Smith in his first regional visit as commissioner, speaking with growers in Bundaberg.
Mr Furner said he was eager to begin collaborating with Mr Burke to make a positive impact on food farmers’ lives.
“I look forward to working closely with Mr Burke in his new role as interim Queensland food farmers’ commissioner,” Mr Furner said.
“Mr Burke is very highly regarded in the agriculture industry and I am confident he will act as a powerful advocate for farmers and shoppers,” he said.
“The Miles Government is a great friend to farmers, and we will continue fighting to bring down the cost of living for Queenslanders.”
Mr Smith said he hoped this position would help Queenslanders to hear the voices of local farmers.
“We know the pressures of the supermarket industry on our Queensland farmers and the more that we can tell their stories to Queenslanders the greater choice Queenslanders have to make about where they shop and how much they should have to pay,” Mr Smith said.
“I welcome Charles Burke to the role, I know he is highly respected and will do an excellent job for all Queenslanders.”
