‘Every bottle has a story waiting to be discovered’ said Katrina and Vaughan O’Connor when King Island Distillery Bass Strait soft launched their King Island premium products this week.
Travelling up North, the multi-million-dollar investment distillery buildings emerge from the soil, nestled into the landscape and glisten in the sun.
The first spirit releases mark the birth of a new premium King Island product. “What started as an idea for a small distillery in 2015, and officially commenced as a business on August 2, 2017, has now blossomed into a remarkable journey with a commercial distillery on one of the world’s most remote islands that is now delivering high-end, ultra-premium quality products at volume,” Ms O’Connor said.
“After years of planning and building the distillery we are excited to share our King Island-made products with the world. Our vision for the distillery has always been to create world-class products with world-class ingredients,” founder Vaughan O’Connor said.
“The on-ground production team – Jason, Tristan and Nathan should be extremely proud of what they have produced.
They are now making whisky on a weekly basis for maturation and outputting ultrapremium vodka, gin and moonshine.”
“We are thrilled to release the first of our product range which includes two gins – King Island Coastal Gin and Gidley Dry Gin and a moonshine, Martha’s Moonshine – something a little unexpected.
“It would be incredible to see our ultra-premium spirits served at King Island bars and restaurants, and we have just created a wholesale portal on our website to facilitate these types of orders,” Mr O’Connor said.
King Island Distillery also leases the café space at King Island Airport and is providing a temporary coffee van while preparing to develop the airport space.
“Shopfitters remeasured the flagship retail space at the airport and off-island construction has begun,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We understand the community is eager for a great cup of coffee and food options to return to the airport and we will be focussed on supporting local businesses in retailing their products where we can collaborate.”
The rains came and Grassy recorded 28mls on Saturday morning and, after all the drainage work, a lot of people were wondering how Grassy Oval was going to fare.
There were no huge patches of water as in the past, but there was still a thin film of water all over the oval that made for slippery conditions. As the play progressed, the ground got muddier, however, there were some excellent passages of play and skill shown throughout the game.
North won the toss, elected to kick with the breeze and was quick to move the ball forward, only for it to be driven back out just as quickly.
Both sides ran well and moved the ball to advantage, with Justin Summers getting North on the board first with a nice running goal. Grassy soon followed with their first major through Tyler Smith from Currie, who had topped up for Grassy to give them 13 players for the game.
Grassy had Peter Cole home on school holidays and he played out of the centre, kicking a huge goal from just outside the centre square.
North got the ball forward but found it hard to score until Jeramy Summers marked and kicked truly.
Rory Taylor received a free on the boundary and was able to kick a nice goal before quarter time to see Grassy up by 8 points. Grassy got their act together in the second quarter, continually movingthe ball forward from the centre bounces or running it out of the North back line.
Tyler Rhodes was first to score, followed by Brandon Blomfield who kicked one off the slippery ground.
Brandon Blomfield and Justin Summers puddle paddling.
Keiren Barnes down low with the ball.
Jeramy Summers showed some nice wet weather skills to pick the ball up on the run and kicked his second for the game. It then became the Tyler Smith show as he kicked one from the boundary.
He then received the ball from a quick get out of the centre, only to miss a sitter directly in front.
He quickly made up for the miss, marking strongly when Grassy quickly moved the ball out of the centre again and he kicked his fourth for the game. North shifted Jeramy to the back line to stem the flow of Grassy goals.
He found Bailey Rainbow on a kick out, but he miskicked back to Jeramy, and it went out on the full. At the half-time siren, Grassy had increased their lead to 32 points. The third quarter was a tight affair, with little scoring for either side. Rory Taylor dominated in the ruck for Grassy continually giving them first use of the ball. Peter Cole and Tristan Forrest were able to find space at will, helping to drive Grassy forward regularly but unable to score.
Ben Cleeland was in everything for North and is improving with each game.
Mathew Button was also having a good game along with Lawson Hoare who is certainly moving around the ground a bit quicker than his dad did.
The Summers boys battled hard and young Harrison Lincoln is enjoying playing in the seniors, kicking the only goal of the third quarter. The fourth saw the ground getting muddy underfoot and players started to tire.
Bailey Rainbow was moved forward for North and on the receiving end of some nice play only to miss a sitter. Grassy were unable to clear the ball past the centre and it ended back in the arms of Rainbow, who did not miss this time.
Brady Rhodes received a free close to the goal and was able to kick it through.
There was a lot of slipping and sliding and North was able to get the ball forward but were only kicking points.
After some scrambling play in the Grassy forward area, they were finally able to score through Smith, as he kicked his fifth to help Grassy to a 27-point win in what was a good wet weather game.
The elegant Pure South Dining restaurant, located at Southbank in Melbourne, has a long-standing relationship with King Island and has launched a limited-edition dinner series, ‘A Chef’s Tour of Tasmania’ celebrate the past two decades of championing the freshest, traceable and sustainably farmed ingredients from Tasmania.
This series is an extraordinary opportunity for mainland foodies and gourmets to celebrate 20 years of Pure South’s commitment to Tasmania’s finest produce.
“King Island Beef has been a cornerstone of our menu since 2004,” Pure South Dining founder and co-owner Phillip Kennedy said.
King Island grass-fed beef and Southern Rock Lobster feature in their fine dining menus. Additionally, King Island Steak Night has King Island beef front and centre every Tuesday at their casual all-day dining riverfront restaurant – Pure South Kitchen.
“Pure South Dining was born out of a trip to King Island in 2003. I got goosebumps when I arrived on the island and then we came back and met the farmers. People were sceptical when we opened as a Tasmanian-focused restaurant that specialises in produce from Tasmania,” he said.
“That’s now 20 years ago. We are an ambassador for King Island Beef for JBS. King Island beef is now the only beef on the menu… over the years, I and my staff have made many trips to the island and have met as many farmers as we can and have made many friends.”
Over the past 20 years, Pure South chefs have been associated with the now-in-sabbatical King Island Long Table lunch, expanding from preparing and cooking the lunch to providing cooking classes before the event.
“I remember the early days so well. The Long Table lunch included fun cooking classes. It was great for staff to not only be part of the event but to get out of the kitchen and meet with farmers and see where the produce comes from and how it’s grown,” Mr Kennedy said.
“I have watched the dry conditions and the impacts on the island. It’s hard for the farmers.” The restaurant has sourced specialty produce such as suckling piglets for their tail-to-nose menu events and local King Islanders have supplied eggs and other products.
“We have worked with the school’s hospitality students in the past and I hope we can do this again. It’s easier for us to send a Michelin-star chef and staff to the school than the students coming here. King Island District High School Hospitality students have dined in Pure South Dining in the past – I’m hoping we can organise something.”
Kennedy and co-owner Peter Leary have cultivated strong and enduring relationships ensuring unparalleled freshness and flavour.
“We have flights coming in daily from Devonport with fish straight from boats, and farm produce from across the state including King Island beef, cheese and rock lobster from the island,” he said.
The dinner series will feature a six-course degustation menu curated by Michelin star Executive Chef David Hall, which is focused on showcasing key ingredients from King Island and long-standing suppliers such as St Helens ‘Lease 65’ Oysters, Mount Gnomon Farm, and Pyengana Dairy.
A curated Tasmanian wine pairing will also be on offer.
Each week until July 31, guests will have the opportunity to meet and interact with producers, gaining insights into the stories behind each ingredient.
The Sartori name is held in the highest esteem at the Grassy Football Club. JA Sartori arrived on King Island on May 22, 1939, and became a popular MC at dances.
His skills soon extended into football, golf and cricket administration.
Jim and his wife, Nell, were avid supporters of GFC, with their sons, Don and John, becoming budding footballers.
Jim first played for Grassy in 1942 and retired in 1957 after serving as coach, vice president, assistant coach and match manager.
Jim’s true legacy lies in his dedication to junior football. He successfully coached GFC juniors in the early ‘50s and was a key figure in forming the KIJFA, serving as its founding president from 1952 for eight years and then as its patron until it rejoined KIFA in 1965.
Jim donated a trophy for the best-dressed team for decades and made a life member of KIJFA, KIFA, and GFC.
He was known as the ‘father of King Island junior football’, served on the KIFA tribunal and was active in GFC and KIFA until the late ‘80s, acting as patron from 1980 to 1997.
Jim’s son Don played for GFC schoolboys, juniors and Southern seconds from 1947 to 1954.
He tied for the GFC junior B&F with his brother John in 1951 and played in three senior premierships until the mine closed in 1958.
Sartori Medal winner for best player in the 2022 Grand Final Leigh Sartori with grandfather Don Sartori and the KIFA Premiership Cup won by Grassy.
He received many awards including best club man in 1956, most consistent in 1957 and most unselfish in 1958.
Don was on the GFC committee and a club delegate. Don moved to the West Coast and returned to the Island in 1961 to captain-coach GFC.
His wife Sheila supported Grassy juniors for decades, earning a life membership and serving as club patron in the 1990s.
Their eldest son Jimmy played junior football from 1972 to 1975 and senior football until 1981, including the 1978 senior premiership.
Younger brother Gerald ‘Jezza’ played juniors from 1974 to 1979, moved to senior ranks in 1979, and won the GFC B&F in 1992. Jezza had a 25-year senior playing career, likely the club’s games record holder, and played for King Island sides.
His son Leigh played junior and senior football, starring for the Southport Sharks in QLD.
Jim and Nell’s other son John played from 1947 to 1956, winning many awards and premierships. He played in the 1955 senior premiership, later moving to Traralgon and Maryvale.
John returned to captain-coach GFC and the King Island side in 1968 and coached the senior side in 1975-76. John’s son Peter played junior football, winning the KIFA junior B&F in 1980 and the GFC senior B&F in 1984.
His younger brother Shawn played juniors and seniors, later joining Burnie Hawks, Sandy Bay and the Southern Cats.
The Sartori maternal line also contributed to King Island football, with Jeremy Batey, Greg Munday and Alex van Ruiswyk as notable players.
The current crop includes Jackson and Rory Taylor, whose mother Nikki is a GFC life member and father Shane also played for Grassy in the ‘90s.
The Sartori medal, awarded to the best on the ground in the KIFA Seniors Grand Final, honours this family’s significant contributions to King Island Football.
Facebook will soon block the majority of local news in your feed but that’s no reason to miss out.
Every year, thousands of Lions take to the streets in a host city at the Lions International Convention to represent their homeland and celebrate their heritage during the iconic Parade of Nations.
King Island Leos departed the island and took part in the two-day event experience representing King Island, Tasmania and Australia.
“Leo Lilly Davis was a flagbearer and proudly carried the Tasmanian flag in the Parade of Nations for many hours,”
Leo’s Australian Coordinator and member of Leo’s International Board, Linda Payne said.
The King Island Leos marched with Australian and international Leos through the Royal Botanical Gardens at the head of the parade. Being first across the finish line, they were able to break away and watch the nations, costumes, and floats pass by and have a fully immersive experience.
“Taylor Jordan joined Lilly marching with the Australian Lions contingent who were positioned last as the host nation for 150 countries,” she said.
“The King Island Leo’s did King Island proud and represented the island very well.
“They have had a very busy but exciting experience. Our Leos have met many people from different countries – people were drawn to their hats that had a stuffed toy Lion on top.”
Pin collecting, as with many large international events was very popular.
Ms Payne said the convention encouraged Leos “as leaders of tomorrow” to take a position front and centre. Leo specific activities included a disco night, the Elton John Experience, Elton John tribute act and social events.
“Our Leos have been able to meet other Leos and they have made new friends in other Leo clubs. For some, this was their first trip away without their families or school.
“While all were carefully monitored, there was a little more freedom and as a group they enjoyed tram rides, shopping and of course the inevitable McDonalds.
“Other activities included entertainment on the Yarra, the Skyline Ferris wheel, and the immersive experience ‘Monopoly Dreams’ featuring augmented reality, 4D technology, physical challenges and games,” Ms Payne said.
“They are already talking about fundraising for their next trip – possibly the Australian Lions Convention in Traralgon next year,” she said.
Facebook will soon block the majority of local news in your feed but that’s no reason to miss out.
Local King Island businesses forced to carry miner Group 6 Metals as the company fights for its financial survival have emphasised their support for the mine restart.
The company says it is undertaking sensitive negotiations to ensure the long-term viability of the company.
“This is a complex process, and we cannot disclose specific details due to our continuous disclosure obligations under the ASX Listing Rules,” managing director and CEO Keith Mc Knight said.
“We are working diligently with our stakeholders, including creditors and suppliers, to find solutions,” he said.
“We are committed to emerging from this restructure as a stronger company and will provide a comprehensive update to the market as soon as possible.”
Unpaid or partially paid bills with hardship payment terms have become commonplace for those doing business with G6M at the local level since the beginning of the year.
Local suppliers have increasingly contacted the Courier regarding their outstanding accounts.
All supliers have emphasised their support for G6M and believe that the mine restart has the potential for island growth and prosperity.
However as small businesses they say that they cannot carry a mine that works in the millions of dollars and wait for it to be profitable. This week a large supplier said they were intending to withdraw services unless missed progress payments were remitted.
A payment was made to the company. Another smaller supplier confirmed that they have withdrawn credit and will not supply until their overdue account is paid.
The supplier, as with others with complaints do not want to be named for fear of future repercussions. One creditor said that the company rather than addressing the issues uses phone tag team when the call is chasing money and “no longer returns phone calls”.
“I believe in the mine, what it can mean to the island, but I cannot carry them,” the creditor said.
“Besides being paid, I am most disappointed that not one single senior or management person has contacted me to discuss the accounts and it’s like if we don’t get involved it will go away, I am aware that local tradies are withdrawing their services.”
In November 2023 Group 6 Metals announced a temporary trading halt that was lifted two days later when the company announced to the Australian Stock Exchange that four of its major shareholders committed $8 million in bridge finance funding to progress ramp-up activities at the Dolphin Tungsten Mine in Grassy.
The bridge finance supported cashflow requirements pending receipt of the anticipated $14.3m cash refund under the Research and Development Tax Incentive Scheme.
The company reported lower-than-expected plant use through the September quarter which impacted average monthly production.
The cash injections in January 2024 “boosted efficiency and productivity and unlocked vital resources for innovation and technological advancements.”
It also cleared some overdue or unpaid accounts. Some bigger suppliers renegotiated terms and/or introduced progress payment schedules to ease cash flow pressures and support the company.
Facebook will soon block the majority of local news in your feed but that’s no reason to miss out.
RURAL Aid has called for better bush funding, putting their support behind the National Rural Health Alliance‘s (NRHA) call for more equitable funding in the wake of new research showing rural Australians are missing out on $6.5 billion annually in healthcare access.
NRHA-commissioned research revealed that each person in rural Australia is missing out on nearly $850 a year of healthcare access, equating to a total annual rural health spending deficit of $6.5 billion.
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said living and working in the bush was challenging at the best of times and too often people in rural communities were forced to sacrifice access to basic services, which has become an ingrained, but unreasonable, expectation for anyone choosing to live outside of a metropolitan area.
“The NRHA, through its research, has quantified the gap. Now we call on the government to act swiftly to close the gap,” Mr Warlters said.
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters
Rural Aid is well-known for the assistance it provides farming families before, during and after disaster – including drought, bushfires and floods. This includes mental health and wellbeing support via its team of professional accredited counsellors in communities across rural Australia.
The latest data, revealed in an independent Nous Group report commissioned by the NRHA, reflects the urgent need for an overarching National Rural Health Strategy to bring scattered rural health initiatives under one umbrella.
NRHA chief executive Susi Tegen said the report looked at health spending from a patient’s perspective, reflecting the alarming day-to-day realities for rural Australians unable to access equitable care.
“Over 7 million people, who make up nearly a third of Australia’s population, experience a greater burden from illness and early death, in part due to inadequate funding for their healthcare. This is despite the significant contribution they make to Australia’s economy,” she said.
Resources and rural industries generate around 80 per cent of Australia’s exports, excluding the extra contribution of rural-based services and manufacturing.
The value of agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports is $76 billion, while commodities exports are worth $497 billion – a collective value to the nation of over $500 billion, courtesy of rural Australia. More than 90 per cent of fresh food sold in Australia is produced rurally.
In addition, nearly half of the nation’s tourism income is from rural Australia and over half a million people are directly employed in rural tourism-related industries.
Meanwhile, rural communities experience a triple health disadvantage: poorer circumstances in terms of social determinants of health, a lack of service availability and higher costs of access and delivery, all resulting in poor health outcomes.
“Although the government invests in workforce initiatives and several measures are in place to support rural health, these need to be augmented and continued as they still do not sufficiently improve service availability and a patient’s access to healthcare,” Ms Tegen said.
“Social determinants of health negatively impact rural people, who are sick for longer periods and end up in hospitals because of inadequate primary care access to doctors, nurses and other health workers. Proper funding in this regard would keep people well and out of the expensive and overburdened hospital system.
“Rural communities need government to be more flexible and introduce block or genuine support funding to provide multidisciplinary care for patients. These communities know how to collaborate – they do it every day – but costs of access and delivery are higher, so the delivery of healthcare will be different and broader. It does not fit into the model available to urban people.”
NRHA has called for the funding of a place-based multidisciplinary model of primary health care that gives the flexibility to engage communities and address local needs.
“Communities need access to healthcare in their localities. To achieve this, we urge government to add to existing city-based and hybrid (city/rural) training, with a flipped model of exceptional rural medical and allied training, including nurse training,” Ms Tegen said.
“This would make training in cities the exception and enable students living rurally to train in their own communities.
“Why should people living in rural Australia pay twice or thrice the amount for the same health care available in cities, yet still have poorer health?”
Investing in rural areas would have the additional benefit of reducing costs in the hospital sector and emergency departments but, more importantly, it would increase the already significant economic contribution of rural communities to Australia’s wellbeing.
THE King Island Council has kept the next year’s rate increase to an average 3.74 per cent. Mayor Marcus Blackie said the council has just passed a $15.56m budget for the 2024- 25 financial year.
“It was the second biggest in our 116-year history and only marginally smaller than our biggest (the current FY23-24 budget @ $15.62m),” he said.
“Our new budget continues to be boosted by both Federal and State grant funding for the ongoing delivery of major projects, road resealing/renewal programs and community and recreation infrastructure.
“This is largely due to the council’s ongoing advocacy, which enables this investment to provide safe and accessible facilities, as well as directly assisting our financial bottom line.
“I describe our FY24-25 budget as both responsible and disciplined.
“We have tightened the expenditure belt slightly due to current economic and cost of living headwinds, as well as our drought situation.”
“We are a low-debt council, with no new borrowings planned for this coming year.”
“Total loan balances are estimated to reduce from $0.632m to $0.285m by June 30, 2025.
“The main focus of our budget and capital works for the next financial year has pivoted back to core council business, improved service delivery, public asset maintenance, completion of a number of significant community capital works projects and overdue replacement of critical large plant machinery.”
Mr Blackie said the council’s operating budget also includes provision for the ongoing services that council delivers.
Community capital works projects budgeted for next financial year include:
• Completion of the Hub project, which will provide a range of community, business and education services and tourist information;
• Completion of the Currie tennis courts/netball courts refurbishment;
• Over 1 million for roads and bridges resealing/renewal;
• Roof replacements for the KIRDO & Council depot buildings;
• Improved playground at Naracoopa;
• New parking configuration, roadside and drainage improvements in Main St Currie; new footpaths and airport upgrades.
• Implementation of waste and recycling program
“The increases place King Island as one of the lowest increases in Tasmania,” Mr Blackie said.
“As pledged, we have again done our best to meet you halfway.
“Your elected councilors and the whole council team have delivered budget settings through very sound financial management that provides continued stability to navigate uncertain times.
“I am again confident this budget will give our constituents, King Island industries, small businesses, developers, investors and tourism operators full confidence in our future upward trajectory.
IN THE return game from the long weekend, North’s second home game of the season saw them take on unbeaten Currie.
North had Jeramy, Justin and Jye Summers playing their first game together this season, along with their cousins Samuel, Abraham and James Shires.
Jack Worrall and Benny Buckets (Ben Cleeland) took the first ruck, and North started strong. Jeramy Summers marked on the lead inside North’s 50 but was slightly off target. He made an impact early with an intercept moments later, keeping the early ball secured on North’s forward line.
James Shires lined up next for another behind. Currie went forward but gave it up easily with a chip kick directly to Justin Summers. A returning James Jakowenko passed to Jeremy Walker, who weaved through traffic and scored Currie’s first goal.
North dominated possessions in the first quarter but straddled the fence, while Currie was direct and ruthless, with fewer possessions and higher accuracy both at goal and downfield.
Loki Bell solidified Currie’s lead with another goal. North got their first through James and Abraham Shires, quickly followed by a second from James Shires. North improved their accuracy and stacked on another late in the term, catching the Currie backline off guard.
Tom Graham took a run to the forward line and made a nice unmanned chest mark, halting North’s momentum with a Currie goal.
Campbell Keeler, in a good one-on-one contest with Matthew Button, took the mark but chipped it into a contested forward line, resulting in Charlie Raff getting a quick behind as they went into the first break with Currie leading by one point.
Currie’s Tyler Smith chasing Bulldog’s Jeramy Summers and Charlie Raff (back) in pursuit.
North started the second quarter quickly, with Justin Summers lining up early. He didn’t make the distance, and his brother Jeramy did the groundwork but hit the post for a behind. Jeramy returned moments later with a mark and this time made sure of it.
North went forward again but found Tyler Smith with a strong defensive mark. Currie took it up the ground with less surety and conviction than in the last quarter and were kept to a behind.
Currie found the goals shortly after and got two quickly. Warner brought it out of the centre again, and Bradley Martin lined up for a goal on a slight angle and converted.
North got their opportunity forward, but with no one close to home, Justin was forced to dribble kick to nothing, and it bounced out.
They kept it locked in their forward line, and Matthew Button, with a thunderous kick from the 50 mark, sailed one through for North. By halftime, both sides were pretty evenly matched, with Currie increasing their lead to 8 points.
Dale Ellis and James Jakowenko one on one for the ball.
The intensity increased in the third quarter, with a lot of argy-bargy. After a long battle in the Currie forward line, Jakawenko sent one through for Currie. He followed it up with a one-handed mark as it came out of the centre, passing it low inside 50 to a Tom Graham chest mark, and a behind.
Jakowenko didn’t let it out easily and took an intercept mark from the kick-in, passing to Keeler, who missed Jak Youd but found North’s Justin Summers. Raff kicked one right in front from a free and 50.
The ball was contested when Martin ran forward at the centre, got a lucky bounce, dodged one, then another, and scored for Currie.
It must have been awkward when Jeremy Walker, in a contest with his student Harrison Lincoln, got the mark but gave away the free to Lincoln. North went forward with it and found their only goal at the third-quarter siren, leaving them down by 42 points.
The final quarter started with long shadows. Rainbow had been strong all day for North in the backline and took one cleanly to send it back North’s way. Currie, after a long stint in the forward line, got a behind.
On the kick-in, North went clean to James Shires, to Button and back to James Shires near the wing. He backed himself but was off target for a behind. Michael Laskey passed to Jak Youd on the kick-in, which was turned over by Fanning in the centre.
All the play was around the middle, with turnover after turnover and no one quite finding their way deep. Tempers spiralled at a centre bounce, the shoving from earlier spilling over into an altercation and the North hill supporters were vocal.
Play returned to Currie’s end, but only behinds on the board. Laskey passed to Graham, which was interfered with right in front of the North faithful. Graham kicked from the pocket for a goal, seemingly loving the haters, as he converted the goal seamlessly.
Currie chipped it around unimpeded in front of the goal, setting Luke Morris up with a kick and goal. Raff rescued one deep in the North forward line before Jye Summers returned the favour at the opposite end.
It was an exhibition match in front of the netball courts for the Bulldog cheer squad. In the final quarter, it was deep in North’s defence, but the Maroon cheer squad didn’t seem to notice, getting louder and louder as the game edged toward full-time.
At the final siren, it was a convincing 64-point win for Currie, who remain undefeated this year. Despite a tight start and a sharp North firing out of the blocks, they perhaps overused the ball at times and lacked the organisation to stay with Currie for the full four quarters.
Both teams are not without quality markers as they enter the back half of the season, with plenty of football left to play. I wouldn’t wager the sheep station on August just yet
THE fate of King island Dairy is still up in the air, seven months after owners Saputo Dairy Australia (SDA) announced a review of the operation.
The global dairy giant’s strategic review is progressing, a company spokesperson said this week.
SDA announced the review with an option of selling in November, 2023. The Courier has asked the company for: the review completion date; if a sale of King Island Dairy proceeds, the sale/ buyer cycle timeline and; if a buyer is not found during the on-the-market sale period, what will the company then do?
A Saputo spokesperson said the SDA “timeline is flexible” and that the company would keep employees informed. The review is part of Saputo’s strategy to cut operational expenses in its Australian network.
Saputo acquired the specialty cheese business Lion Dairy & Drinks Pty Ltd in 2019 for $280 million on a cash-free and debtfree basis, which included the two manufacturing facilities in Burnie and King Island, Twenty-four maintenance workers at the Canadian corporation’s Burnie site operations have been in dispute with the company for more than eight months and last week stopped work with no return-to-work date.
The union said Saputo pays the Burnie workers 21 per cent less than the same workers at their rural Victorian sites. In response to the stop-work, Saputo has flown in workers from Germany to continue the site maintenance.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Michael Wickham said Saputo’s latest move reinforces the unfair treatment of Tasmanian workers.
“It’s bad enough that the company is trying to make disparity worse with a cut to real wages, only offering 4.5 per cent, but now the company is spending more money to continue this dispute with scab labour than it would cost to do the right and fair thing,” Mr Wickham said.
“Not only have the company flown workers in from Germany and is offering blank cheques to local companies to try and cover the strike, they are employing gutter tactics.”
Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union state secretary Michael Anderson said that the company had sent ‘propaganda’ about negotiations by express post to the home addresses of striking workers, a move he called “anti-Tasmanian”.
“The North West Coast is a small community and deserves better from a multinational company that has depressed wages of working families for years, like many other big employers,” Mr Anderson said.
“But Saputo’s step to send propaganda by express post to try and cause problems at home for families already under the pressure of depressed wages and dealing with a strike is a new low.
“It’s an old, dirty, and failed union-busting tactic,” Mr Anderson said.
“Similarly, local contractors have been offered work at the site at any cost, which has only served to fire up the workers more for what’s fair.”
Saputo said that the company has made repeated attempts to schedule bargaining meetings since mid-May. Saputo is understood to have scheduled a meeting with the unions’ national bodies in Sydney on Friday.
