A NOVEL approach is being used to drive home what needs to be done to prevent the imminent loss of the Queensland dairy industry.
Letters explaining the dire situation will be delivered in Malanda Milk bottles to each Member of Parliament and Senator on Tuesday, outlining what needs to be done to save milk production in Queensland.
Senator Susan McDonald recently met with dairy farmers from the Scenic Rim west of Brisbane, and from Malanda and Millaa Millaa in Far North Queensland, as well as Tablelands Mayor Joe Paronella about the difficulties in legislating a floor price for raw milk, and what needs to be done to keep dairy farmers in business.
Cr Paronella said the situation was so dire that he estimated all the dairy farmers in his region could be gone within 12 months.
Based on these talks, Senator McDonald made a submission to the Morrison Government's Dairy Code of Conduct consultation process on Friday, calling for the Code to strongly focus on ensuring Woolworths and Coles are made mandatory signatories.
Senator McDonald has also lent support and resources to the Tablelands Regional Council's novel letter delivery method, while strongly backing the Morrison Government's forthcoming Code of Conduct.
"A tough code will go a long way in securing the future of Queensland's dairying industry by giving our farmers the bargaining power they need to achieve a fairer price," she said.
"I would also point out that while there have been calls from farmers and their supporters for a legislated minimum price, I have received advice from the ACCC that suggests this would be unconstitutional and would take 18 months to implement.
"To be frank, many Queensland dairy farmers don't have that long, so the quickest way to bring relief to farmers is for everyone - including all our federal politicians - to pressure the big supermarkets into charging consumers more for milk and passing on the increase to farmers.
To be frank, many Queensland dairy farmers don't have that long.
- Senator Susan McDonald
"Coles and Woolworths constantly crow about selling RSPCA-approved chickens, dolphin-free tuna and 'ethical' coffee, but they continue to source milk from farmers who are not being treated ethically in any way, and who are being paid less for their milk than it costs to produce it.
"New Zealanders pay A$2.20/litre for milk at their supermarkets, why can't our big supermarkets follow a similar path?"
Senator McDoanld said the dairy industry was in crisis.
"While the Code of Conduct will be in place early next year, I call on Coles and Woolworths to not wait until there are rules in place, but to lift their prices now," she said.
"The consequences of not doing so will be the end of people being able to easily source fresh, Queensland milk."
