Mick Keogh appointed ACCC agriculture commissioner

AUSTRALIAN Farm Institute executive director Mick Keogh has been appointed the first agriculture commissioner with the nation’s consumer watchdog.

Headshot of Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh photo supplied.

AUSTRALIAN Farm Institute executive director Mick Keogh has been appointed the first agriculture commissioner with the nation’s consumer watchdog.

Mick Keogh

Deputy prime minister and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce announced Mr Keogh’s five-year appointment to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in Canberra this morning.

Mr Joyce said the role had been established to address farmer concerns about competition along the supply chain.

Mr Keogh has more than 30 years’ experience in agribusiness, and continues to be involved in a mixed farming business in NSW.

It will be his new task to adjudicate on issues such as farmer disputes with processors and supermarkets.

The new position was announced in last year’s Agricultural Competitiveness White paper.

“In Mick Keogh our farmers now have an individual representing their interests with in-depth knowledge of the agricultural sector and a clear understanding of the competition, market power and legal issues impacting their industry,” Mr Joyce said.

“It will go a long way to reducing farmers’ vulnerability to the market power that can be wielded by large processors or retail chains.

“Mr Keogh will, with other commissioners, work closely with the ACCC’s newly established Agriculture Enforcement and Engagement Unit, to gather intelligence on the ground and see the market up close.

“The unit has begun to assess and investigate a number of complaints about possible breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in agricultural markets and analysed information, including compliance data to identify key market issues for further examination.”

Mr Keogh’s appointment is likely to be popular among the agriculture sector where he is widely regarded and respected.