Queensland dairy farmers are being urged to attend the upcoming Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Dairy Inquiry public forum being held in Toowoomba on Monday, February 6.
ACCC Chairman Rod Sims and Agricultural Commissioner Mick Keogh will be attending the Toowoomba meeting to hear directly from farmers.
The meeting will be the first of eight public consultations being held in dairy regions throughout the country.
Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) president Brian Tessmann said it was essential that farmers who wanted to see changes to the current market power imbalance in Queensland have their say in the ACCC Dairy Inquiry.
“Mick Keogh has promised that this dairy inquiry would ‘have teeth’ and deliver upon industry and community expectations,” Mr Tessmann said.
“Queensland dairy farmers intend on making sure the ACCC has the information they need deliver on this promise.”
Mr Tessmann said the Queensland dairy industry had experienced the effects of market manipulation power imbalances at first hand since the introduction of $1 per litre milk in 2011.
“Because the Queensland dairy industry is entirely a fresh milk market, we have borne the brunt of the major retailers deciding to sell our product a cost lower than production,” he said.
“The effect of $1 per litre milk has impacted the entire dairy supply chain, with over 180 farmers leaving the industry since 2011.
“The status quo cannot be allowed to continue. The only way we can change it is by getting out and having our voice heard.”
Mr Tessmannn said it was clear discounted milk was unsustainable if consumers wanted to continue to have fresh milk produced in Queensland.
“The last time milk was priced at $1 per litre was in 1992, and since then Queensland farm gate prices have gone up by 20 per cent,” Mr Tessmann said.
“QDO members and state councilors will be at the meeting in Toowoomba prosecuting the case for change, and we encourage all dairy farmers to join us.
“The QDO will continue its campaign to improve market power between processors, retailers and farmers and restore market fairness to the Queensland dairy industry.”
The ACCC Dairy Inquiry forum will be held at 11:30am at the Toowoomba City Golf Club at 254 South Street, Toowoomba.
