We can still fart

[Phantom]

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/100m-spc-ardmona/2169447/

SOUTH Burnett's biggest navy bean customer has been given a lifeline.

SPC Ardmona's parent company Coca-Cola Amatil and the Victorian Government have joined forces to invest $100 million to save the company.

Coca-Cola Amatil have agreed to fork out $78 million in conjunction with the Victorian Government's $22 million commitment.

It comes after the Federal Government rejected a $25 million bid to save Australia's last fruit and vegetable processor last month.

Over a three-year period the combined package will be put into efficiency measures and innovation into the company.

It is estimated more than 2500 jobs in the Goulburn Valley, where the Shepparton plant is located, would have been affected by a closure.

 

[Warrigal]

From what I hear, a good outcome, although productivity issues around old and outdated plant and inefficient farming methods will need to be addressed if it is to have lasting benefits. A lot of the local farms are still the size of the old soldier settlement allotments and need to be larger scale for efficiency.

 

[Diwundrin]

I'm pleased it's going to survive. While I agree that the govt. shouldn't bail out failing business as a rule I do think a bit of flexibility is not beyond the realms of possibility. Flick the car industry by all means, that was never going to survive against Asian costs but food processing is a different ball game. Even though we know Coke is blackmailing us we aren't in a position to do much about it under the circumstances.

We're going to have to loosen up a lot of our dearest 'principles' to survive over the next few decades. There's a massive changing of the guard happening around us and we'd better damned well adapt to it, and fast.

The old traditional ways, rules and alliances are changing. China's Naval sashay between Indo and OZ was a wake up call we'd better heed. The Brits have long since been the 'rulers of the waves' and I fear this latest Chinese exhibition of gunboat diplomacy is putting the States on notice too. It was more for their benefit than ours I think, we already have the message of where we stand on the Global totem pole.

 

[drifter]

And where do you stand, Di, out on that pole?