DISTRESSED farmers are urging state and federal lawmakers to crack down on bullying against regional communities amid safety fears sparked by vegan protests across Australia.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has called for all state governments to beef up trespass laws to include imprisonment and a minimum fine equal to the cost of police intervention.

“It is critically important that each state allocates police resources to these matters and provides a directive for officers to remove and prosecute offenders,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

“This campaign of bullying, intimidation and harassment by militant vegans must stop, and the only way we will see a deterrent is for strong and binding penalties to be put in place.”

The current penalties for trespass offences vary between states. New South Wales imposes a maximum fine of just $550 for unlawful entry of public or private land enclosed by a fence under section 4 of the Inclosed Lands Protections Act, while in Western Australia, section 70A of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act offers a maximum penalty of 12 months’ jail time and a $12,000 fine.

Mr Richardson said more transparency was needed around sentencing for farm trespass related offences across jurisdictions.

“Governments need to implement rigorous reporting around the enforcement of trespass laws so that we can understand how effective the penalties are in deterring this destructive behaviour,” he said.

Protesters on Monday blocked major intersections in capital cities and organised demonstrations outside abattoirs across the country.

Mr Richardson slammed the protests as a disgraceful act of intimidation.

“Farmers are just trying to do a job, just like everyone else, and they deserve the freedom to run their businesses without harassment or intimidation,” he said.

“Australia has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and our farmers care enormously for their animals.

“State and federal governments need to act now to preserve the peace and ensure regional communities are protected.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

THE federal government has opened a gateway for skilled migrants working on dairy farms to move permanently to Australia in a bid to help solve the industry’s labour shortage crisis.

Under changes to the Dairy Industry Labour Agreement (DILA), skilled overseas workers on Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visas and the defunct 457-visa can apply for permanent residency.

To be eligible, workers employed under a DILA must be on either visa for at least three years and be nominated for an Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa by the same employer.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) praised the outcome, after the organisation last year wrote to Immigration Minister David Coleman urging him to help the industry secure a permanent skilled workforce.

“This is a terrific outcome and we appreciate the Minister’s efforts in listening to the industry and working constructively with us in addressing the shortage of skilled labour that is hurting dairy businesses,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

“The pathway to permanent residency is vital to ensuring Australian dairy farmers can attract skilled overseas workers who will avoid Australia if they can obtain permanent residency in other countries.”

The change will bring the dairy industry’s labour agreement into alignment with the meat and pork industries.

“Dairy farmers need reliable access to skilled overseas workers and it’s pleasing to see the government amend our industry labour agreement to reflect the modern reality of the dairy industry,” Mr Richardson said.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

DAIRY business owners are one step closer to securing a permanent skilled workforce with the federal government amending its occupation classification list to make it easier for farmers to attract experienced and skilled overseas labour.

Under changes to the Australian Skilled Occupation List, high level dairy farm managers who have responsibility for overseeing farming operations are eligible for the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa entry to Australia for up to four years with the possibility of renewal and permanent residency via the 187 visa.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) praised the outcome after the organisation last year pushed for an overhaul of the occupation classification system.

“The experience of regional communities around Australia is that migrant farmers not only fill labour shortages, but they also bring with them new technological insights gained overseas to apply to Australian farming and revitalise local communities,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

“The pathway to permanent residency is vital to ensuring Australian dairy farmers can attract skilled overseas workers who will avoid Australia if they can obtain permanent residency in other countries.”

The changes will apply to migrant workers on TSS visas who have an undergraduate qualification or at least five years’ experience.

The TSS visa for short and medium-term employment last year replaced the 457 visa stream, which had been used to recruit skilled overseas labour.

ADF argued to the government that dairy businesses were losing up to $364 million each year in employee turnover as a result of the industry’s labour shortage crisis.

“Dairy farmers need reliable access to skilled overseas workers and it’s pleasing to see the government amend its job classification system to reflect the modern reality of the dairy industry,” Mr Richardson said.

“The dairy industry is taking positive and comprehensive steps to address the widespread skills shortage in the dairy industry, and this is one of a range of measures that will address the problem.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

MANY dairy farmers across Australia will receive a much-needed income boost from tomorrow, with supermarket giant Coles committing to raise the price of their discount milk lines by 10 cents to $1.10 per litre, with the entire price increase going back to the farm gate.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) praised Coles for the move.

“Coles has made the right decision to increase the price of its discount milk brand and they should be commended for their initiative in working to end this price-freezing practice,” ADF chief executive David Inall said.

“Farming families put tireless effort and resources into producing a quality product and there is no question that supermarket discounting has had an incredibly demoralising and negative financial impact on the Australian dairy industry over the last eight years.

The price of Coles Brand two litre milk will rise to $2.20, with three litres rising to $3.30 as a result of the increase.

The supermarket said in a statement it will “work with dairy processors to ensure that the benefit of this retail price increase will go directly to the dairy farmers who supply Coles Brand milk to our customers.”

Mr Inall said the price announcement was the culmination of extensive talks between Coles and ADF.

“We have had a number of constructive meetings with Coles executives and we now welcome the opportunity to re-engage under these circumstances and continue the discussion regarding those medium-to-long-term issues that will assist this industry to move forward.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) supports the federal government’s commitment to pursuing a mandatory Code of Conduct for the industry.

ADF has always said our aim is to address the information asymmetries that currently exist in the industry and strengthen bargaining power for farmers, while respecting commercial realities and supporting innovation and market dynamics.

We understand that a new mandatory code will include provisions to

Importantly, it will also establish a dispute resolution mechanism to resolve contract disputes between farmers and processors.

ADF’s support for a mandatory code of conduct follows an extensive review of the dairy industry’s existing voluntary code.

The Australian dairy industry is experiencing many challenges, and the government should be commended for progressing this important piece of work.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) has unveiled a revised risk-profiling score to assess and manage the likelihood of Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) in dairy cattle.

The revised Johne’s Disease Dairy Score has been developed in consultation with industry veterinarians, Animal Health Australia and State Dairy Farming Organisations to:

• Provide an easily interpreted score for dairy farmers to profile their risk of BJD;
• Enable farmers to introduce or sell dairy animals with some assurance as to their BJD

  status; and

• Clarify how vaccination can be used to control and reduce risk of BJD.

This revised score commences immediately but has transitional arrangements until September 30, 2019 for herds with low risk of the disease.

The new system includes three outcome levels to BJD management (first steps-progressing, managed risk of clinical disease, and managed risk of infection).

There are eight scores within these levels to be obtained, with this revised score including both vaccination and testing interventions for farmers wanting to improve the score of their herd.

The Dairy Score, which was last revised in March 2016, has been developed to meet the specific needs of the dairy industry.

It is vital for all farms to have an active biosecurity plan that meets industry assurance and regulatory requirements.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has renewed calls for industry unity in finding reasonable solutions to address declining farm gate returns.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Joel Fitzgibbon yesterday announced that Labor would investigate the efficacy of a minimum farm gate milk price if Labor wins the next election.

ADF chief executive David Inall said the organisation this morning held an urgent meeting with Mr Fitzgibbon and Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Australia Lisa Chesters around the proposal.

“We are committed to working constructively through this proposal because farmers are telling us that something must change to secure the future of the Australian dairy industry,” he said.

“We appreciate the recognition from the federal Opposition and other stakeholders, but there are no immediate or simple solutions to address all problems afflicting farmers.”

“It is vital now that we work with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and our members in a dedicated effort to represent dairy farmers in what are unprecedented, difficult times.”

The latest Dairy Australia Situation and Outlook report, out yesterday, attributed a trend of declining farm profitability to soaring productions costs combined with relatively steady milk prices.

Mr Inall said the immediate challenge was to urge supermarkets to raise the price of their discount milk lines on the back of Woolworths move to raise its $1 per litre milk brand to $1.10, with the full 10 cent increase to go directly to farmers.

“Coles has just raised the price of bread due to high grain prices so there is no reason why they shouldn’t also acknowledge the hard work and tight margins of their dairy suppliers,” he said.

“Retailers cannot continue selling cheap milk while simultaneously raising the price of other products to help drought-stricken farmers.”

Coles has refused to follow Woolworths with a similar initiative, instead proposing an industry-wide levy on milk.

Aldi has so far rejected calls to raise the price of its discount milk line, which retails for 99 cents.

“The dairy industry has suffered from the debilitating effects of dollar milk for eight years, since Australia Day 2011, and the retailers have an opportunity to come to the table and help us implement change,” Mr Inall said.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) welcomes the recognition from the federal Opposition that something has to change to secure the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry, and we look forward to working with policy makers to make that happen.

There is no question that the dairy industry is in difficult times, with sustained high input costs and flat farmgate returns leading to increasing numbers of farmers exiting the industry.

The current proposal to set a floor price for milk would likely have considerable implications for Australia’s domestic and export markets.

We will urgently seek a meeting with the Labor Party to gain further details about the proposal.

This is a national industry and we expect a range of views from different regions around Australia. We will sit down with members to determine a clear position soon.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is urging retailer ALDI to raise the price of its discount milk line in a bid to give hardworking farming families a fair price for their product.

“Aldi has a unique opportunity to move on discount milk and be a hero to farmers,” ADF CEO David Inall said.

“Farming families put tireless effort and resources into producing a quality product, day in and day out, and to see it devalued to the consumer has a deep and lasting impact.”

ALDI currently sells cheap milk for 99 cents per litre but have, until now, flown under the radar.

ADF’s call follows the announcement by Woolworths yesterday that it would begin raising the price of its $1 per litre milk range by 10 cents, with the entire increase going back to farmers.

“Woolworths has adopted a model where the full 10 cent increase goes back to the farmers who supplied that milk, via an audited process.” Mr Inall said.

“It is extremely disappointing to see that Coles has chosen not to follow Woolworths lead in demonstrating support for farmers. Collecting customer donations at the register is tokenistic, at best.”

Farmers are currently suffering through a severe drought, with production costs skyrocketing due to high grain, hay and water prices.

Alarmingly, the last Dairy Australia National Dairy Farmer Survey (NDFS), undertaken in early 2018 before the drought really started to bite, found 40 per cent of dairy farmers did not make an operating profit in the 2016-17 financial year.

The survey revealed just 47 per cent of farmers felt positive or very positive about the future of the industry; down from a peak of 75 per cent five years ago.

Dairy Australia is forecasting national milk production in 2018/19 will fall below 9 billion litres for the first time since the 1990s, in another blow to industry confidence.

Mr Inall said it was up to retailers to ensure their suppliers received an equitable price for their product.

“Aldi can take a leadership position and ensure their suppliers receive a fair payment for their hard work.

“If more farmers leave because their milk price doesn’t reflect their high production costs, there will be a real danger of Australia soon not having a dairy industry.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) has secured a major victory in the fight against discount dairy products with Woolworths today agreeing to raise the price of its $1 per litre milk brand to $1.10, with the extra 10 cents to go directly back to farmers.

ADF and Woolworths have engaged in constructive discussions over recent months around the damage wrought on the dairy industry by $1 milk and other discount dairy products.

We understand that the decision to raise the price of a staple household food item was not easy to make, but it was unquestionably the right one.

Woolworths should be applauded for having the courage to phase out its $1 milk line, and it is now time for other retailers to immediately do the same. No ifs, no buts.

The dairy industry has suffered from the debilitating effects of $1 milk for eight years, since Australia Day 2011.

The latest National Dairy Farmer Survey found farmer confidence in the future of the dairy industry has dropped from 75 to 47 per cent over the past four years. Alarmingly, 40 per cent of dairy farmers did not make an operating profit in the 2016-17 financial year.

Removing $1 milk is not just intended to restore farmers’ financial confidence, but also boost confidence in regional communities and small businesses.

Farming families put tireless effort and resources into producing a quality product, day in and day out, and to see it devalued to the consumer has a deep and lasting impact.

Most shoppers are aware of how difficult the past few years have been for the dairy industry. We have been heartened by the outpouring of support from all Australians, wanting to know which brands they can buy to support farmers.

Consumers can continue to buy fresh milk from Woolworths knowing they are supporting the Australian farmers who supplied it.

We encourage consumers to support Woolworths and urge other retailers to immediately end $1 milk.

DAIRY farmers will gain greater contract termination rights after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) secured commitments from several dairy processors to amend specific terms in their supply agreements with farmers to comply with federal unfair contract term laws.

The competition watchdog announced in a statement that “most processors have agreed to provide dairy farmers with the right to terminate their contract if the processor varies supply terms such a price or quality requirements, placing the farmer in a worse position.”

Peak advocacy group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) called the move a win for farmers who for too long had felt the pressure of unfair contract terms.

“This is an important step in strengthening bargaining power for farmers, which was one of the key issues highlighted by the ACCC in the dairy inquiry,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

The regulator also flagged concerns about “lengthy notice periods for farmers to terminate their contracts, one-sided termination rights, broad indemnities, and terms that restrict a farmer’s ability to lease a farm or sell their cattle”.

Many of these issues have been addressed in a draft code of practice developed by ADF in collaboration with industry body the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC).

“The ACCC identified a number of areas that need fixing and our aim is to help the Government implement a code of practice that improves the relationship between all parties,” Mr Richardson said.

Under the proposed draft code, processors must provide farmers with 30 days’ written termination notice and 12 months’ written notice for farmers with no alternative milk supply options.

“A new code of practice will aim to address the information asymmetries that currently exist in the industry and strengthen bargaining power for farmers,” Mr Richardson said.

“ADF is pleased that the dairy supply chain, including processors, has engaged in developing the draft mandatory code and we look forward to moving ahead as an industry to build a framework that suitably responds to the recommendations of the ACCC’s Dairy Inquiry.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au