3 years ago
SENATE SUPPORTS ACCC INQUIRY INTO MINIMUM FARMGATE MILK PRICE
JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
The Senate yesterday supported a Labor motion which called upon the Government to do something meaningful for our struggling dairy farmers.
The motion called on the Government to expand its ACCC inquiry to investigate how it can regulate the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers to ensure a viable dairy industry.
The fact is, after multiple inquiries which have left our dairy farmers with submission fatigue, the Government’s newly-announced ACCC inquiry does nothing meaningful.
Chair of the Senate Rural and Regional Transport Reference Committee Senator Glenn Sterle said, “I have heard from many dairy farmers who have made it clear that they need help now in ensuring they receive a farmgate milk price that will sustain their industry.”
Mr Trace who represented Northern dairy farmers in Queensland and NSW said “Whether it's Dahlsen's proposal for re-regulation or reregulation as it was before—there are many different options—I don't really care how it's done. We need to get the farmgate milk price up so that we can sustain the industry. That's what we need. It could be solved in a day with the right people in a room. We need the political will to do it, and that's what the farmers are doubting.”
Yesterday’s motion, which was not opposed by the Government, called for the expansion of the ACCC inquiry to investigate how a minimum farmgate price could work and the Morrison Government should respect the wishes of the Senate.
Our dairy farmers deserve to have every option considered to ensure the long term sustainability of their industry, otherwise, Aussies may end up drinking milk imported from our neighbours across the ditch.
The motion called on the Government to expand its ACCC inquiry to investigate how it can regulate the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers to ensure a viable dairy industry.
The fact is, after multiple inquiries which have left our dairy farmers with submission fatigue, the Government’s newly-announced ACCC inquiry does nothing meaningful.
Chair of the Senate Rural and Regional Transport Reference Committee Senator Glenn Sterle said, “I have heard from many dairy farmers who have made it clear that they need help now in ensuring they receive a farmgate milk price that will sustain their industry.”
Mr Trace who represented Northern dairy farmers in Queensland and NSW said “Whether it's Dahlsen's proposal for re-regulation or reregulation as it was before—there are many different options—I don't really care how it's done. We need to get the farmgate milk price up so that we can sustain the industry. That's what we need. It could be solved in a day with the right people in a room. We need the political will to do it, and that's what the farmers are doubting.”
Yesterday’s motion, which was not opposed by the Government, called for the expansion of the ACCC inquiry to investigate how a minimum farmgate price could work and the Morrison Government should respect the wishes of the Senate.
Our dairy farmers deserve to have every option considered to ensure the long term sustainability of their industry, otherwise, Aussies may end up drinking milk imported from our neighbours across the ditch.