SunRice Group chair John Bradford with Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt in Leeton on Wednesday. Photo: SunRice

THE FEDERAL Government has announced a $14.5 million co-contribution towards SunRice’s new manufacturing infrastructure in Leeton that will support over 200 direct and indirect jobs.

The potential investment was foreshadowed by the government in August as a possible response to previously announced job losses at the company.

In early August, SunRice announced changes for 92 employees across its Deniliquin, Leeton and Australian Grain Storage (AGS) operations, with 78 staff to be made redundant, and only 14 able to be redeployed.

The Leeton rice cake project will be delivered through the Albanese Government’s Sustainable Communities Program, which is investing more than $300M to support communities throughout the delivery of the Murray−Darling Basin Plan.

SunRice will match the government’s funding and establish a new high-quality, future-ready rice cake manufacturing facility in Leeton.

The project will enhance the long-term resilience of the Riverina rice industry through value-adding manufacturing capability that supports improved returns to growers.

“This will help strengthen value-added food manufacturing in Leeton and create more opportunities from the rice grown by Australian growers,” SunRice Group chair John Bradford said.

“[Wednesday’s] announcement is an important step, but the long-term success of our industry also depends on growers having the conditions to keep producing rice.”

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said the Sustainable Communities Program was central to the government’s commitment to supporting communities across the MDB.

“You can’t have sustainable Basin communities without a sustainable environment, and with our climate getting hotter and drier, it’s more important than ever that we take steps now to ensure the future of the Murray-Darling system,” Mr Watt said.

“The latest independent evaluation shows that our rivers and wetlands are better off thanks to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, all while agricultural production in the region has continued to grow.

“However, we also know water recovery can have impacts and we aren’t going to leave those communities without support.

Federal Senator for New South Wales Deborah O’Neill said the funding is great news for local workers in the rice industry.

“The Albanese Labor Government will always back workers, no matter where they live in Australia,” Ms O’Neill said.

“This funding will support more than 200 jobs in the Riverina which is a great boost for hundreds of families across the region.”

NSW State Secretary of the United Workers Union Mel Gatfield said the investment is a win for regional workers.

“Our members have spent months fighting for a different future, one where government, industry and workers work together to protect production, secure good regional jobs and strengthen Australia’s food security,” Ms Gatfield said.

“We thank the Federal and NSW Governments for listening to workers and backing the future of the Riverina rice industry.

“This investment shows that when workers organise and governments are prepared to listen and act, we can protect important regional industries and build a stronger future for the communities that rely on them.

“There is more work to do, but today workers across the Riverina can have greater confidence that their industry, their jobs and their communities have a future.”

More than 40 projects supporting jobs and sustainable economies have already been announced in the Basin through the Sustainable Communities Program.

This announcement provides additional funding above the $160M already allocated for projects in NSW.

Member for Farrer David Farley (centre right) with the SunRice team at the Leeton plant. Photo: David Farley

More needed, community forgotten

Federal Member for Farrer David Farley welcomed the announcement, but said more worked needed to be done to support the rice industry, especially regarding productive water allocations.

“It’s a great start but we still need productive water allocations, and that is something I’m going to continue to work tirelessly to get,” Mr Farley said.

“Despite the fact that majority of the job cuts occurred at the Deniliquin mill, it appears this funding won’t extend to that part of the electorate.

“The reality is that water allocations have flow-on effects.

“We weren’t asking for funding, we were asking for water so the whole SunRice network could benefit.

“Water means crops, crops mean production, production means product on the supermarket shelves.

“Address water and everything grows from there.”

Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly representing the Murray electorate, Helen Dalton congratulated SunRice on securing funding to expand its plant.

However, in a statement on social medial, Ms Dalton questioned whether the Federal Government would be also providing support for Deniliquin, which was also impacted by job losses.

“Our town is losing 68 rice-mill jobs, with businesses across the community under pressure, yet Deni received no funding, announcement or certainty,” Ms Dalton said.

“When asked about Deniliquin, Minister Watt pointed to the NSW Government.

“Our irrigation communities need certainty, higher water allocations and support for the towns bearing the consequences of water policy.

“Before taking another litre, governments should account for the more than 4600 gigalitres already recovered for the environment.

“Where is it, how is it being managed, and what outcomes are achieved.”

Source: Federal Government, Helen Dalton MP