Australian Dairy Farmers president calls for federal and state government to step up support

Federal and state ministers need to come up with a co-ordinated plan, Ben Bennett says, with Australia’s dairy industry in crisis.

Federal and state drought support for struggling primary producers is piecemeal and slow-moving, Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett says.

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan have announced new drought packages in the past fortnight but Mr Bennett said both plans largely failed to provide immediate assistance to the sector.

The ADF president is calling for Canberra and Spring Street to better co-ordinate and take on board farmer-led initiatives, claiming recent announcements were focused on public perception rather than tangible results.

“Clearly they do understand the meaning of the word ‘immediate’. We’ve asked for immediate assistance for dairy farmers and what they have offered so far are reheated ideas and funding that doesn’t even come close to addressing the problems farmers are facing now,” he said.

“We have farmers selling off their capital, their livestock, today. We have farmers paying thousands for fodder and water, today.

“And what is the response from government? Reheated funding.

“We need to get them all in the same room — federal, state, government (bureaucrats), the processors — because there is a lack of co-ordination and a lack of urgency.”

The ADF has called for immediate crisis relief in the form of feed and water transport subsidies, cash grants and low interest loans and the activation of category C and D disaster support. Mr Bennett said last week’s state announcement only vaguely covered cash grants, with loan assistance overlooked and feed and water subsidies inadequately addressed.

“Of course, every government announcement when it comes to drought has to patronise farmers about mental health. We’ve outlined what’s needed to both levels of government and again they’ve ignored how they can practically help,” the ADF president said.

Aerial picture of Ben Bennett’s southwest Victorian farm. Picture: Mark Stewart

The office of federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, ADPF chief executive Janine Waller said the processor organisation intends to meet with Ms Collins in the coming months to discuss the way forward for factories after a difficult string of years for food manufacturing.

Ms Waller said the Albanese Government’s Feeding Australia strategy needed to have a robust dairy sector as part of the overall plan.

“Over the past two-and-a-half years, 16 dairy processing facilities have publicly announced a closure – a stark indicator of the challenges facing our industry,” Ms Waller said.

“We are more than encouraged that Minister Collins has put the development of Australia’s new national food security strategy, Feeding Australia, at the top of her priority list. This focus is critical.”

“(We need) a strong emphasis on keeping manufacturing local, attracting investment and building a skilled workforce.

“To secure the future of a viable, regionally based dairy processing sector, we need shared ambition across the supply chain, underpinned by a genuine, long-term alliances with government.”