October 18, 2018
The LNP’s attack on major supermarkets has been ramped up with Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett suggesting it was time for the “bastards to pay”.
Mr Perrett called for a Royal Commission into how the supermarket giants were milking the system and squeezing Queensland dairy farmers.
“It’s about time Queenslanders got answers as to why our major supermarkets in Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been allowed to get away scot-free destroying our local dairy industry,” Mr Perrett said.
“What we have seen happen to Queensland’s dairy industry is a national disgrace and it’s time to find out who is responsible,” Mr Perrett said.
“It’s time for these supermarket bastards to come out from behind their glossy spin doctors and face the tough questions.
“The public and our farmers deserve answers on how the race for corporate profits through the $1 per litre milk price has forced out 75 per cent of Queensland’s dairy farmers in the last 18 years – from more than 1500 to just 386 dairy farms in the State.
“In Queensland, a dairy farmer is leaving the industry approximately every 5-7 days due to the behaviour of the supermarkets.
“Let’s be very clear, our dairy farmers are not shutting down because of a drop in demand – Queenslanders drink 84 litres of fresh white milk per person per year – they are closing because they are getting as much for their milk now as they were in 1992.
“We saw the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) lead a proactive campaign for a very reasonable 10c per litre drought milk levy, but all the supermarkets served up in reply to public pressure were half-baked measures to plug their own already unfairly priced home-brand products.
“Buying supermarket private label milk, even packaged with the drought levy, is worth less to dairy farmers than branded milk.
“Clearly public and political pressure are not enough.
“Year after year the supermarkets have not budged, but that time is now over.
“The Queensland Liberal National Party completely support a Royal Commission into the major supermarkets and finally getting answers from those responsible for this mess.”
- Related article: Ag Minister Urges Supermarket Boycott
