Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Water, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Parks & Wildlife, Shadow Minister for Local Government

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09
Sep

Dairy crisis needs leadership

2009


The State Government has to get on the front foot and back dairy farmers who are struggling to cope with exceptional seasonal conditions and plummeting prices for milk.

The provision of interest-free fodder loans for fodder, or fodder subsidies, to help keep dairy cows in condition at this terrible time is one option that should be urgently considered.

Farmers are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and the sort of difficulties many are experiencing this year will have serious flow-on effects for our economy.

It’s perverse that after years of crippling drought, the rains that farmers have been waiting for have come in such abundance that they are causing serious distress.

Crops can’t be planted, stock health is suffering, lambing and calving percentages are down – and for dairy farmers, for this to be combined with a plummeting milk price and higher input costs such as electricity is a complete disaster.

The State Government was flat-footed in responding to the drought and we can’t afford a repeat of that in responding to this latest crisis.

The government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, need to apply effort to this task.

A Senate inquiry into dairy pricing practices is welcome but there are short term measures that are needed too.

I believe support to help dairy farmers purchase fodder to get their stock through this period, and ensure their condition does not deteriorate, is something the government must consider. This will also ensure that in the longer-term, the industry is in better health.

The government should also look at what additional counselling resources could be applied, and whether there are measures the government can take to assist animal health, for example, veterinary assistance.

It would be worthwhile for some sort of awareness campaign to be conducted to show consumers just how little dairy farmers get paid for a litre of milk, compared to what they pay in the supermarket, and to encourage them to support local producers.
Recent power price hikes of Aurora Energy will further cripple dairy farmers, as dairying is an energy intensive business. The government should back our dairy farmers at this time and there are many constructive steps it could and should take.

We need some leadership from the government on this issue but we’re not getting that from Labor.