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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10
Sep

Government must get involved in helping dairy farmers

2009

Members of the State Opposition will visit the North West Coast next week to spend time with struggling dairy farmers and better ascertain their needs.

The idea of diverting available drought resources to assist struggling dairy farmers has merit, but we believe there is more the State and Federal Governments can do.

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

We will discuss this, and other, options with dairy farmers next week.

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

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.

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.