{"id":155757,"date":"2016-08-25T14:25:40","date_gmt":"2016-08-25T04:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=155757"},"modified":"2020-07-28T19:55:05","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T09:55:05","slug":"accc-to-probe-dairy-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/08\/25\/accc-to-probe-dairy-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"ACCC To Probe Dairy Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Deputy Prime Minister
Barnaby Joyce<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 25, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will begin an inquiry into the dairy industry in November.<\/p>\n

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said on Thursday the inquiry would be held under Part VIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.<\/p>\n

This would give the ACCC the powers to obtain information from companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur dairy farmers deserve fair returns at the farm gate, as well as transparency in milk price arrangements and supply contracts, which is why I can announce the ACCC will undertake a detailed inquiry into our national dairy industry,\u201d Mr Joyce said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn in-depth and independent inquiry is a thorough and fair way to uncover inefficiencies and inequities that our farmers face \u2013 and identify a way forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage everyone in the dairy industry to contribute to the inquiry. There will be confidentiality arrangements in place to ensure the ACCC gets the information it needs while protecting commercial interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ACCC will investigate sharing of risk along the supply chain, supply agreements and contracts, competition, bargaining and trading practices in the industry and the effect of world and retail prices on profitability.<\/p>\n

It will release an issues paper and engage with stakeholders through public and private hearings, and take written submissions, before delivering a final report to the Federal Government in the second half of 2017.<\/p>\n

The ACCC\u2019s Agriculture Unit, which was established through an $11.4 million commitment by the Federal Government in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, will lead the inquiry.<\/p>\n