Agriculture Minister David Littleproud takes aim at Coles, Woolworths over ‘milk levy’

COLES and Woolworths have been slammed for “empty media stunts” over their pledges to support drought-affected dairy farmers.

A Woolworths drought relief milk.

COLES and Woolworths have been attacked by the federal Agriculture Minister for “empty media stunts” over their pledges to support drought-affected dairy farmers.

David Littleproud unleashed at the supermarket giants over a 10c “milk levy” originally pitched to be applied to all brands of milk and to be paid directly to farmers.

Mr Littleproud said there was no guarantee the money Coles collected would even go to the farmers who supply its supermarket with milk.

Coles has increased the price of its own brand milk.

But Coles has hit back, saying it had appointed accountants PwC as an independent auditor to oversee and verify funds have been allocated to drought-affected dairy farmers.

Coles has increased its own brand 3-litre milk by 30c while Woolworths has upped its 1 litre milk by 10c.

Instead of returning money direct to suppliers, Coles is offering grants to all drought-affected dairy farmers.

“I was initially prepared to give the benefit of the doubt but it hasn’t been followed up with good policy work — it’s an empty media stunt,” Mr Littleproud said.

Federal Agriculture David Littleproud has slammed supermarkets for empty gestures. Picture Kym Smith

A spokesman for Coles said it was disappointing Mr Littleproud had chosen to criticise the supermarket, which had already committed more than $12 million to drought relief.

“Coles has established the Dairy Drought Relief Fund to ensure 100 per cent of the funds raised from this 30c increase on the price of Coles’ own-brand 3L milk will be donated directly to dairy farmers affected by drought,” the spokesman said.

Mr Littleproud saved his biggest criticism for “the big German” — Aldi — which he said could “go and take a running jump” for not even attempting to support Australian dairy farmers.