September 28, 2015
The Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation is cautiously optimistic following Malcolm Turnbull’s successful bid to become Prime Minister last week.
QDO President Brian Tessmann said he was very interested to hear the outcome of the renegotiated federal Coalition agreement which became necessary following the leadership change.
“We must acknowledge the efforts of Warren Truss, Barnaby Joyce and the National Party team for their efforts, ” he said.
Of particular interest was a decision for Cabinet to again consider an “Effects Test”, ie. altering the Competition and Consumer Act to include conduct which has the purpose or likely effect of substantially lessening competition.
“After the previous Federal Cabinet only a couple of weeks ago indefinitely postponed any introduction of an ‘effects test’ into the Competition and Consumer Act, it is now back in consideration,” Mr Tessmann said.
“This was a change called for by the Harper review of Competition and Consumer Law. While not as strong as many would like, it was robustly supported by the farming and small business sectors.
“The change will again be debated by Cabinet and it is hoped that the Turnbull government will see the value in the fairer and more competitive markets the ‘effects test’ will help create.
“The ALP did not and still does not support any positive reform to benefit farmers and small business.
“It disappointingly looks very much like Bill Shorten and Labor are again doing the bidding of the unions, particularly in this case the Shop & Distribution Union (SDA).
“I believe the SDA are simply doing the bidding of the large supermarkets in their goal of stifling competition reform.”
