Farmers urged to take part in ACCC inquiry

NSW Farmers' Association is calling for dairy farmers to voice their concerns about the industry at public forums as part of the ACCC's inquiry.

Dairy farmers are being urged to voice their concerns about their industry at public forums due to be held by the consumer and competition regulator.

The NSW Farmers' Association has urged farmers to stand up and be heard at the sole NSW public forum, which will be held at Taree on the NSW mid-north coast on February 7.

"The ACCC needs to hear your concerns about things like lack of competition for milk supply in your area, concerns about pricing such as notice or mid-season changes, lack of transparency from the processors and retailers, and contractual terms that restrict your ability to do business such as exclusivity clauses," Erika Chesworth, chair of the NSW Farmers' Dairy Committee said.

The ACCC is examining competition among milk processors, processors' contracts with farmers, global supply markets and the profitability of dairy farms.

The first forum will be held at Toowoomba in Queensland on February 6, and the second meeting will be held in Taree.

More forums will be around the country, with a final meeting in Burnie in Tasmania on March 22.

The ACCC is expected to hand over its inquiry findings to Treasurer Scott Morrison before November 1.

The ACCC is separately investigating cuts to the price paid to dairy farmers for their milk by processors Murray Goulburn and Fonterra in April and May 2016.


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Source: AAP


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Farmers urged to take part in ACCC inquiry | SBS News