ACCC

Strawberry and dairy industries facing hardship

In question time Senator Hanson asked why the Government has continued to let Coles and Woolworths squeeze the life of the Australian dairy industry.

The Senator also asked why won’t the government refer the conduct of Coles and Woolworths to the ACCC on the basis of their anticompetitive conduct in the dairy industry.

Why has the Government abandoned the dairy industry? | Pauline Hanson Question Time

Today in question time I asked why the Government has continued to let Coles and Woolworths squeeze the life of the Australian dairy industry.I also asked why won't the government refer the conduct of Coles and Woolworths to the ACCC on the basis of their anticompetitive conduct in the dairy industry?What did you think of the Government's response?If things are allowed to continue down the current path we are on soon there might not be much of a dairy industry left to protect.

Posted by Pauline Hanson's Please Explain on Monday, September 17, 2018

The Australian dairy industry is being brought to its knees by the uncompetitive practices of Coles and Woolworths.

One Nation is taking a stand on this, calling them out and calling on the Government to refer them to the ACCC.

How To Save Australia's Dairy Industry | Pauline Hanson Speech

The Australian dairy industry is being brought to its knees by the uncompetitive practices of Coles and Woolworths.I'm taking a stand on this, calling them out and calling on the Government to refer them to the ACCC.You can read my full speech here: https://www.senatorhanson.com.au/2018/09/19/save-australias-dairy-industry/

Posted by Pauline Hanson's Please Explain on Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Read Pauline’s Full Speech (click here)

I won’t be buying cheap milk after learning about the devastation that $1-a-litre milk has caused dairy farmers and the threat it poses to the supply of fresh milk for our children and grandchildren. Australian consumers take for granted that they will always be able to buy fresh milk at a reasonable price, but that situation won’t last unless we take action now. Industry experts say that if the dairy farmer continues to be paid less for fresh milk than the breakeven price at the farm gate then production will fall further and more milk will be exported to places like China, where they are prepared to pay up to $9 a litre. The Chinese consumer loves Australian fresh milk. It is the reason Chinese interests bought Australia’s largest milk producer in 2016—a group of 25 dairy farms in Tasmania. This Tasmanian dairy herd of over 20,000 cows produces enough milk to fill two Qantas flights a week bound for the Chinese market.

If we don’t take action now, fresh milk will become a luxury item and we will be forced to use milk powder. When that happens I will hold Coles and Woolworths responsible for the disappearance of fresh milk from our refrigerators. Coles and Woolworths use their market power to buy fresh milk for their home brands below the cost of production. They can do this by simply threatening not to stock other products like cheese, butter and yogurt. I know most Australians are willing to pay bit more now for their milk to ensure the continued supply of fresh milk and to support our dairy farmers. I call on the government to regulate the price of fresh milk on supermarket shelves in a way that sees dairy farmers paid a fair price for their fresh milk. This regulation would end the milk war started by Coles in 2011 and encourage competition in supermarkets.

To be clear: I’m not calling on the return of the regulatory regime which existed prior to 2000, where the federal government subsidised the price of manufactured dairy products and the state subsidised the price of fresh milk. I want the farmgate price for milk regulated so that milk will be available at a fair and sustainable price for consumers and the dairy industry. I have called on the government to refer the duopoly of Coles and Woolworths to the ACCC for anticompetitive behaviour, but the government won’t do it.

Dairy farmers have left the industry and many more are under huge financial strain and trying to work out how they can survive. The toll on the mental health of these Australians is too high, and everyone in the industry knows of someone who has suicided. Dairy farmers cannot be expected to deal with huge electricity prices, a drought and the misuse of market power by Coles and Woolworths. They need a bit of help, and I’m asking consumers and the government to do their bit. I know the ACCC has made recommendations and I support them, but it is not enough. Dairy farmers are running out of feed and don’t have the money to buy more.

I am worried for Queensland dairy farmers and for Queenslanders, because we once produced enough milk for our state and export and now we don’t. We had 1,500 dairy farms in 2000 and now we are down to 385. Dairy farmers need a sign that it is worth struggling on, and the quickest and most effective way now is for consumers to stop buying home brand milk from Coles and Woolworths. I’ll keep fighting for dairy farmers in my discussions with government. I want the price of fresh milk at the farm gate regulated, and I want to make sure that not one single dairy herd goes to the slaughter houses for lack of feed. Please support branded milk from the independent processors like Maleny Dairies, 4Real Milk and Cooloola Milk that pay dairy farmers a fair price for their fresh milk. I’m calling on the Australian people to stand by these dairy farmers and not pay the cheap price from Coles and Woolworths.

We also saw cowardly and crippling attacks on the strawberry industry throughout Australia.

Strawberry growers need Government support

I have been strongly lobbying the Government, speaking directly with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture, to urgently step in and offer assistance to our Australian strawberry growers.As you are probably aware, the industry is reeling from a number of attacks of senseless commercial terrorism. If the Government doesn't take swift action there is no telling how many jobs will be lost or how many innocent lives will be ruined.You can read my letter to the Agricultural Minister for details of my full proposal: https://www.senatorhanson.com.au/2018/09/18/save-our-strawberry-growers-a-letter-to-minister-littleproud/

Posted by Pauline Hanson's Please Explain on Monday, September 17, 2018

One Nation has been strongly lobbying the Government, speaking directly with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture, to urgently step in and offer assistance to our Australian strawberry growers.

The industry is reeling from a number of attacks of senseless commercial terrorism. If the Government doesn’t take swift action there is no telling how many jobs will be lost or how many innocent lives will be ruined.

You can read Senator Hanson’s letter to Minister Littleproud below:

Dear Minister,

Over the past week, most strawberry growers throughout Queensland have had their seasons brought to a rapid end due to fruit tampering.

The terrorising act has left one man hospitalised after swallowing half a sewing needle that has led to major supermarkets recalling the fruit and spooking consumers’ nationwide.

By the weekend, Coles and Aldi stores had removed all Queensland strawberries for the remainder of this strawberry season.

Queensland strawberry growers are in complete shock, with many contemplating the financial run this will have on their businesses off the back of seasonal low prices.

I have spoken to Queensland growers and their state body who have confirmed emergency talks have occurred with supermarkets with further meeting taking place this week.

The Queensland strawberry industry consists of roughly 80 growers and is worth approximately $200 million dollars each year to the state’s economy, generated over a 4 to 5 month period.

Berry growers now employ more workers than any other in the fruit and vegetable industry. These jobs too have also come to an early end, costing small town economies enormously.

I note that some strawberry growers have arranged meetings with their banks this week in anticipation of lenders having itchy feet and calling in loans.

I will make contact with Queensland strawberry growers to ensure them, my office will personally write to all banks this week to seek their support of this industry during what can only be described as a devastating event. I would encourage you to do the same.

In the event of Australians being the victim of terrorism, the Department of Human Services offers up to $75,000 depending on the circumstances.

These growers, I feel, are victims of an act of terror.

While no amount of money can revive the season Queensland growers have lost, there are ways your Government can assist these 80 growers by way of grants to implement scanners that will safeguard their fruit and assist in implementing new tamper-proof technologies before next year’s season.

Minister, I am seeking an urgent meeting with you and your department to discuss these and any other solutions you may have to assist our Queensland strawberry growers.

Kind Regards,

Pauline Hanson

One Nation continues to fight for primary producers across Australia.

The post Strawberry and dairy industries facing hardship appeared first on onenation.org.au.

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