{
  "id": 9042100,
  "title": "The mill 200 farmers can't afford to lose",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/the-mill-200-farmers-cant-afford-to-lose",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T23:59:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2026-09-22/australia-last-grower-owned-sugar-mill-seeks-government-bailout/107158784"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Isis Central Sugar Mill, the last grower-owned sugar mill in the country, is seeking financial assistance to avoid losing the jobs and livelihoods of 200 farmers and more than 1,500 people in the supply chain. The mill, located four hours north of Brisbane, has been struggling to meet its crush target, crushing just under 1.2 million tonnes this year, 51,000 tonnes behind schedule. Isis Central Sugar Mill chief executive Simon Brooks attributes most of the financial strain to global market conditions, but work stoppages have also contributed. The mill is in talks with the Queensland government for a $9 million loan, which is expected to cover expenses until September 2027. Brooks is seeking federal government support to match the state funding, citing a promising business case for a bioenergy precinct adjacent to the mill. About 200 growers supply cane to the mill, and the 2026 season has been hampered by mechanical issues, including one boiler being offline for five weeks. The mill's board has reached an in-principle agreement with the state government for the loan, but final details are still being worked out.",
  "summary": "Australia's only remaining grower-owned sugar mill needs a multi-million-dollar loan to survive.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}