Share on Twitter A local mayor has entered territory no state or federal politician has ventured after apologising for the blackbirding practices that helped build Queensland's sugarcane industry. Bundaberg mayor Jack Dempsey said the practice of "forcing indentured labour into Queensland cane fields was equivalent to slavery and abhorrent". "Today I wish to extend a sincere apology on behalf of the Bundaberg region community for the abuse which occurred in 'blackbirding' people from Vanuatu and other Pacific Islands to work in the Queensland sugarcane industry," he said at a ceremony on Friday morning. "Our sugarcane industry was built on the backs of Pacific Island labour, along with much of our infrastructure such as rock walls, which are still visible today."