The member for Dalrymple, Shane Knuth, who will introduce the bill, said the marketing tool would be non-compulsory and hoped it would “address the market failures resulting from the supermarket duopoly”.
Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation president Brian Tessmann said most Queensland dairy farmers are currently receiving prices less than the true cost of production.
Mr Tessmann said the QDO welcomed the attention to the issue of the supermarket duopoly.
“The industry remains committed to working with governments to establish an industry ombudsman and a national mandatory code of conduct, and this remains the primary focus of our negotiations with both major parties,” Tessmann said
“But we welcome this recognition of the crisis from Mr Knuth. It is clear that measures must be urgently taken to stem the losses being inflicted on the industry. Without government action, the implications for the Queensland industry are dire.”
Tesmman said it was time for the Federal Government and the opposition to spell out what their policy intentions are and where they stand in supporting the Queensland industry and other dairy farmers being impacted right around Australia.
“So far, they’ve been frustratingly silent, even though their own ACCC admits stronger rules are required.”
