{"id":218459,"date":"2018-09-18T20:50:41","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T10:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=218459"},"modified":"2020-07-27T17:27:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T07:27:56","slug":"qdo-blames-coles-for-dairy-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/09\/18\/qdo-blames-coles-for-dairy-collapse\/","title":{"rendered":"QDO Blames Coles For Dairy Collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
$1 per litre milk has wiped $10 billion out of the Australian dairy industry since it was introduced in 2011,
the QDO says (Photo: Wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 18, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation has blamed supermarket giant Coles for a $10 billion loss in the Australian dairy industry.<\/p>\n

“The Australian dairy industry is in crisis,” a media statement released by the producer association on Tuesday said.<\/p>\n

“While we do not like to scaremonger, the reality is that Queensland, much of NSW and probably the Western Australian dairy industries won\u2019t be around in a few years if things stay as they are.<\/p>\n

“When Coles introduced $1 per litre milk in 2011, the minimum price of milk was $1.30.<\/p>\n

“For the other supermarkets to stay competitive, they followed suit and now all supermarkets stock a $1 per litre line.<\/p>\n

“Not only did this introduction knock 30 cents off the minimum price, but the processors were also forced to reduce the cost of their branded milk to stay competitive.<\/p>\n

“Factor in inflation over the last seven years, we are talking about a 60 cent discrepancy on 2011 prices.<\/p>\n

“Based on an average volume of milk sold per annum of 2.55 billion litres, this equates to a $10 billion-plus loss to the dairy industry over the last seven years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It is a staggering sum and goes a long way to explain why our dairy industry is hurting so much.<\/p>\n

“QDO\u2019s campaign for a 10 cent\/litre Drought Levy has had a terrific response from the public with now over 100,000 signatures on the petition on change.org<\/a><\/strong> as well as the support via our social media channels.<\/p>\n

“We have been receiving phone calls and emails from everyday mums and dads wanting to know what more they can do to get this 10 cent increase through.<\/p>\n

“It has been truly heartening to see so many people wanting to support our industry.<\/p>\n

“When QDO initiated the campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he would support the levy, but only if Coles were on board.<\/p>\n

“That our newly appointed leader would say such a thing, truly demonstrates just how much power Australia has\u00a0allowed the supermarkets to acquire.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The value of the media\u2019s support cannot be understated. They have helped make something that could have been a flash-in-the-pan story into something that continues to gain momentum, two weeks in.<\/p>\n

“The media will have no doubt have been receiving pressure if not outright threats since Coles is one of the biggest advertisers in Australia; so we are truly appreciative of their ongoing support.”<\/p>\n