Dairy Connect calls for a royal commission into the sector
Dairy Connect is calling for a royal commission into the dairy industry – a concept backed by the National Party candidate for the Eden-Monaro by-election, Trevor Hicks.
ONE of Australia’s top dairy lobby groups has called for a royal commission into the sector ahead of a keenly-anticipated federal by-election.
Dairy Connect challenged all political parties to back the high level probe into the dairy industry, a concept backed by the National Party candidate for the Eden-Monaro by-election, Trevor Hicks.
Leading candidates for the bellwether seat — Labor candidate Kristy McBain and Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs — are yet to back the concept.
Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan said that while the industry had been regularly inspected and analysed, there had never been a broad-ranging inquiry with powers appropriate to a critical analysis of the entire supply chain.
“There have been a number of stakeholder and parliamentary committees looking into the Australian dairy industry over many years with many of their reports now gathering dust on the shelves of Parliamentary libraries and MPs’ offices,” he said.
“A royal commission would overcome the intransigence of government in implementing appropriate reform in an industry where market failure has been occurring since deregulation 20 years ago.
“Dairy Connect supports the call for a royal commission where the terms of reference specifically looked at ways to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Aussie dairy industry and thus kept future generations of dairy farmers on the land.”
Dairy Connect group president Graham Forbes said a royal commission would need to look at differences and needs between ‘fresh milk’ states like Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia compared to Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
“The time has come to stop importing dairy produce that is labelled as being ‘Australian’,” Mr Forbes said.
“The time has come for us to look at ways in which we can address the inequities between those who produce compared with those who process, sell and/or market our nutritious dairy produce.”
Mr Hicks has indicated he will cross the floor of Federal Parliament to ensure the passing of legislation to establish a royal commission into the Australian dairy industry.
The National Party’s highest-ranking federal MPs — Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Agriculture Minister David Littleproud — have not expressed support for a royal commission into the sector.
The Eden Monaro by-election will be held on July 4.
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