PRIME Minister Malcom Turnbull on Wednesday pledged to address the dairy crisis and issues affecting the industry.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
His statement came in response to Murray Goulburn’s opening milk price of $4.31 per kilogram of milk solid, announced earlier this week. Fonterra has since announced an opening milk price of $4.75kg/ms.
Mr Turnbull said he would hold discussions with processors, suppliers and supermarkets to tackle the global and domestic challenges facing businesses.
He said if re-elected, he and Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce would sit with the management of Murray Goulburn and directors to “really go through the issues”.
“There are a number of elements in the way these dairy farmers have been treated that is very, very troubling,” Mr Turnbull said. “This is a matter of real concern to the government.”
Mr Joyce said the government would continue to stand by dairy farmers.
He said Murray Goulburn’s new opening price was the lowest since 2009 ($3.60/kgms) and no assistance was provided by the former Rudd-Gillard Labor government.
Mr Joyce said the Coalition was already delivering a $579 million support package to help farmers manage challenges and return to profitability, with a further $2 million to increase pricing transparency and $900,000 for additional rural financial counsellors.
“These… loans are already open for application in Victoria,” he said.
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) are also investigating issues with the milk pricing crisis.
Incumbent Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said the price cut had obviously come as a shock.
“This is extremely tough times for dairy farmers,” he said. “Obviously we are in caretaker mode, so we need to make sure no matter who is elected, dairy farmers will get the help they need.”
Mr Tehan said he was excited to work with Mr Turnbull and Mr Joyce if re-elected.
Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon released an open letter to dairy farmers saying he understood the crisis had grown “a whole lot worse” for farmers, their families and the economy.
“The further price cut we all feared was coming has arrived,” he said. “And many of you will now be wondering how to keep your head above water.”
Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Joyce had delivered staged relief after the fact – “too little, too late”.
This statement was echoed by Labor Wannon candidate Michael Barling who said the way processors were treating dairy farmers was unconscionable.
“We need to find a long-term solution to fair pricing in this imperfect market.”