Accountant Kevin Ashworth on Dairy Australia’s staffing levels

Farmer turned accountant Kevin Ashworth says “there’s a lot to be questioned” over how Dairy Australia runs its numbers. See why.

When Kevin Ashworth walked into Dairy Australia’s annual general meeting recently, his two career paths of farming and figures converged.

The former dairy farmer studied to be an accountant in the same Deakin University lecture theatre that was chosen by Dairy Australia to host its 2024 Warrnambool forum.

When the AGM swung into the question-and-answer session, Mr Ashworth didn’t hold back — forensically questioning outgoing DA chairman James Mann about the state of the dairy authority’s finances.

The Warrnambool accountant told The Weekly Times staffing levels at DA were “significantly higher than industry averages”.

“Dairy Australia’s employment benefits are running around 44.5 per cent of the funds that come in from farmers via their levies,” Mr Ashworth said.

“We’re talking significantly higher than most equivalent organisations when it comes to employee costs, which run at an average of 30 per cent.

“It was ironic to be back in the same lecture theatre I studied accountancy in, a bit over a decade later, using those principles and applying them to the way DA runs its numbers. “Because there’s a lot to be questioned there and not a lot of answers from management.”

Warrnambool-based accountant Kevin Ashworth was originally a dairy farmer. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Ahead of the AGM, United Dairyfarmers Victoria officially opposed a proposed increase in remuneration for non-executive directors on the DA board, from an aggregate of $490,000 to $590,000 per year.

Mr Ashworth also questioned the merits of the remuneration increase, which was nonetheless approved by a majority of voters at the AGM.

“Where is the justification for a 20.4 per cent increase in the aggregate directors pool? I asked that question at the AGM and didn’t get a satisfactory response — farmers are paying for these huge increases with very little scrutiny.”

A DA spokeswoman said: “Dairy Australia’s average employee remuneration is consistent with comparable roles across similar-sized agricultural organisations.

“Paying a fair and competitive salary ensures that Dairy Australia can attract and retain staff with the right skills and capabilities to support our program of work servicing Australia’s dairy farmers.”