Dairy farmers call levy poll choice but Littleproud says his hands are tied

The Federal Agriculture Minister says he can’t vary the levy poll options, despite farmers wanting the right to vote for a cut.

Ignored: Farmers who want cutback the amount they pay Dairy Australia will not be given that choice in the upcoming levy poll.

The national Dairy Levy Poll Advisory Committee has ignored calls from the majority of farmer submissions it received demanding a cut in the $32 million they pay their peak research, development and marketing body annually.

Two NSW and Queensland representatives have already resigned from the committee in disgust at their colleagues’ decision to ignore the majority of submissions and limit farmers voting choices to maintaining or increasing the Dairy Australia levy in next March’s poll.

The Weekly Times has been told the vast majority of the 40 submissions lodged with the LPAC expressed dissatisfaction with DA and the levy rate, either calling for a reduction or no levy at all.

Queensland dairy farmer Matthew Trace and his NSW counterpart Heath Cook said they would not have resigned if LPAC had agreed to give farmers the choice to reduce the levy, in addition to voting for the status quo and increases.

Other farmers have backed the pair, with Australian Dairy Farmers councillor Phil Ryan stating: “I support the right of farmers to vote for a reduction in the levy, despite voting the other way myself”.

Given 39 per cent of farmers voted for no DA levy at all in the 2012 poll, Mr Ryan said it was important to give them a voice.

Other farmers who contacted The Weekly Times said “to be fair to everyone we need choice” and “I milk 750 north of Warrnambool, pay DA about 20 grand a year and get sweet fa in return”.

The Weekly Times asked LPAC chairman Ron Storey if farmer submissions to LPAC would be made public.

But he refused to answer the question, stating: “LPAC has taken into account many views and insights on the level of the dairy service levy from industry stakeholders and farmers”.

Mr Storey said Agriculture Minister David Littleproud had been informed of the recommended voting options, which were due to be made public today.

Dairy Connect chief executive and lawyer Shaughn Morgan said Mr Littleproud had the discretion to vary, confirm or reject LPAC’s recommendations.

He said the Dairy Produce Act 1986 states the Minister can make provision to receive “recommendations”, leaving him free to make changes.

Mr Littleproud’s office referred the matter to the Department of Agriculture, which stated its legal advice was that the Minister had no choice but to accept LPAC’s recommendations.