Liberal Democrats Senator Leyonhjelm says the recently announced Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) inquiry into the national dairy industry needs to investigate whether a regular Dairy Poll should be reinstated.
In late 2015, the requirement for Dairy Australia to convene a levy poll at least every five years was removed by legislation introduced by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce. A poll will now only occur if a committee recommends a change to the level or structure of the levy. With most members of the committee believed to be supporters of levy funded activities, this is seen as unlikely.
Senator Leyonhjelm says the Inquiry is a good opportunity for the ACCC to investigate whether a regular Poll could return some power back to the farmers.
“Farmers were told the costs of the Dairy Poll were excessive and the poll should be dropped. This was deceptive – the cost was mostly attributable to campaign costs, by those seeking a certain outcome. It was like including the costs of Liberal and Labor Party advertising in the Australian Electoral Commission budget.
“Given current low milk prices and the economic stress being felt by many dairy farmers, some farmers might want to vote to reduce the amount they contribute to marketing and research. Unfortunately, they can no longer do that.
“I believe all levies should be subject to a regular vote by levy payers. When agricultural industry bodies are not directly answerable to their members, they become inward looking and wasteful.”
“The ACCC inquiry seems to be an appropriate means of investigating whether dairy farmers should have some control over their own costs restored,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
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Contact Gavin Atkins at Senator Leyonhjelm’s office on 0448 164 844. For more information on the Liberal Democrats go to: www.ldp.org.au Is the LDP for you? Try our quiz.
