November 2, 2015
Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation president Brian Tessmann has welcomed news that a bipartisan agreement has been reached on the China Free Trade Agreement.
But at the same time, he is disappointed that the organisation’s call for a mandatory code of conduct for the supermarket industry has again fallen on deaf ears.
“QDO certainly welcomes the announcement that the Federal Government and Labor Party have finally reached an accommodation that should, we hope, see the China Free Trade Agreement ratified this calendar year,” Mr Tessmann said.
“While many in the dairy industry have been quick to praise the government since the deal was announced, it still dismays me that even after this long and difficult China FTA journey there still remain battles to fight.
“But first things first, thanks must go to Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb and all the negotiators who worked with industry including Dairy to get this deal over the line.”
However, Mr Tessmann is less impressed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“ACCC Chair Rod Simms … last week stated that the implementation of the Voluntary Grocery Industry Code of Conduct had been ‘disappointing’,” Mr Tessmann said.
“Even with this acknowledgment, he continues resist calls to go back to the drawing board and move towards a mandatory code of conduct.
“He told Fairfax media that even though he was disappointed, it did not mean (the voluntary code) was totally off the rails.
“Mr Simms said they were now working quietly with the supermarkets to ensure the Code did what it was designed to do.
“One of the issues that remains is that some supermarkets had given the impression to suppliers that the new supply agreements were non-negotiable.
“While the appointment of the ACCC’s dedicated Agricultural Commissioner has been welcome, we will continue to have a distortion of our domestic grocery markets and impact supply chains and farmers if we do not have a mandatory code with teeth.
“It is time Australian agriculture received the political recognition and clout some other sectors of the economy have enjoyed over the past few years.”
