The Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) congratulates federal Labor in winning a majority government, and welcomes the new Federal Minister for Agriculture, Murray Watt, who will be sworn in as part of the Labor Government today.
“We wish Murray Watt well and we welcome the opportunity to work closely with him throughout this parliamentary term,” says ADIC Chair Rick Gladigau.
“ADIC looks forward to working with all cabinet Ministers to implement its pre-election policies for nutrition standards in aged care, biosecurity and trade. However, there is more to do regarding key issues such as labour, water and food labelling.
“On labour, implementing the National Agriculture Workforce Strategy is one step to address skilled worker shortages in regional Australia. On water, recommendations from the Productivity Commission and ACCC for the Murray-Darling Basin need to be implemented. We also want to see the changes to meat labelling regulations to extend to dairy so consumers can make informed choices about the nutritional benefits of animal and plant-based foods.”
“Dairy manufacturers are under immense pressure to manage a tight domestic milk supply market, with challenges from high raw material input costs, freight and logistics, labour costs and availability, and surging energy and gas prices – challenges which are confounded further due to the retailers’ reluctance to pass through any price increase,” says Mr Gladigau.
While farmgate returns are increasing, the cost of farm inputs continues to skyrocket, says Mr Gladigau. “Farmers continue to exit this industry and we believe there is a clear role for Government in this conversation. A stronger local manufacturing sector is needed to decrease the reliance of Australian agriculture on imported products – chemicals, fertiliser, fuel and machinery – and reduce the operating risk of dairy production,” he says.
“ADIC looks forward to working with the new Ministry as the next three years will be a defining period for the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry. With the right policy settings, the new government can ensure the dairy sector sustains its contribution to life in Australia.”
Media contact: Mark Paterson mark@curriecommunications.com.au +61 (0) 409 411 110.
About the Australian Dairy Industry Council
The Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) is the dairy industry’s peak policy body. It co-ordinates industry’s policy and represents all sectors of the industry on national and international issues through its two constituent bodies, Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd (ADF) and the Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF). It aims to foster, promote and protect the interests of the Australian dairy industry by driving a whole of industry approach to dairy policy and the development of the dairy industry.