9 September 2020 Weekly Times
PRICING support for dairy farmers is set to be examined by the nation’s competition watchdog following a unanimous Senate vote.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last month triggered an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission probe into the relationship between fresh food producers, including dairy farmers, and the retail sector.
A motion by WA Labor senator Glenn Sterle last week called for the scope of the ACCC inquiry to be expanded to include examination of regulating “the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers.”
Victorian Labor senator Raff Ciccone seconded the motion and said supermarkets needed to step up support for farmers.
“Whether it’s Coles, Woolworths or any of the other big retailers, they need to acknowledge the impact of the recession on Australian farmers and ensure they have a viable future,” he said.
