‘Fair Go’ milk-labelling scheme challebged by Australian Dairy Products Federation

Smaller dairy farmers just want a fair go — and to label to their milk accordingly. But the push doesn’t have universal support.

Queensland Dairy Organisation’s Fair Go Dairy scheme is being challenged by the Australian Dairy Products Federation. Picture: Andy Rogers

A push by Queensland’s smaller dairy players to set up a ‘Fair Go’ labelling scheme to highlight their underdog status has hit an administrative hurdle.

After a six-month process, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission granted authorisation for the Queensland Dairy Organisation’s Fair Go Dairy scheme last month.

QDO chief executive Eric Danzi said the ACCC green light enabled the Fair Go campaign to launch in June.

However, the Australian Dairy Products Federation lodged an application with the Australian Competition Tribunal seeking to set aside the ACCC’s determination.

Mr Danzi said it was unclear how long the review process would take, with QDO now not permitted to run the launch campaign.

“To say that this further delay is disappointing is a major understatement,” he said.

“Why is the ADPF so determined to block Fair Go Dairy which is aimed at providing transparency to consumers about the origin of milk and whether farmers are paid a fair price?

Mr Danzi noted the ADPF “typically represent the big milk processing companies.”

“All the smaller dairy processing companies in Queensland including Maleny Dairy, Maleny Cheese, Kenilworth Dairies, 4Real and Mungalli Biodynamic are not members,” he said.

“So, as it would appear, by their membership and support of ADPF, the larger milk processing companies in Queensland being Norco, Lactalis (Pauls) and Bega (Dairy Farmers) do not want to support consumers having increased transparency over the products they are buying.”

An ADPF spokeswoman said: “Information regarding the application, including copies of the ACCC’s determination, ADPF’s application to the Tribunal and further documents filed in connection with the application, will be available at the Tribunal website.

“ADPF has brought this application for review after careful consideration for the wellbeing of the dairy industry.”