Federal Election – Impact on Dairy Farmers

The Federal election is underway, and dairy farmers are rightly considering if the outcome has any impact of their livelihoods.  This is a good question.

Historically, agriculture does not feature in the daily campaign highlights or nightly news, but Trump has changed that this year – with tariffs, beef exports and quarantine standards carrying the news. 

The impact on the industry remains unclear, but the residual resentment to the US behaviour has shifted the political landscape, with both leaders positioning to defend Australian industry and not taking retaliation.

Money has been put into ‘buy Australian made’ and a focus on alternative markets like Europe. The stock exchange took a hit but seems to be re-grouping and talk has shifted to prospects of global recessions and mortgage rate cuts.

In short, the economic waters have muddied, and the silt will need to settle over the next few months to see how clear the waters are for dairy and other industries.

The impact of other waters is the more present concern for dairy farmers in regions affected by ex-cyclone Alfred and other sustained rain events and for the beef and lamb industry in Western Queensland. 

Farmers are living with the catastrophic hit on businesses and livelihoods and the spotlight is on how well Governments respond and support farmers - after the photo ops are done.

It also turns farmer’s minds to climate and economic resilience.  How can farmers be better supported to invest in the infrastructure, technologies and pastures that will withstand recurring weather events and improve profitability?

The political climate also seems ripe for an announcement on the Food Security Plan.  Farmers will recall the Parliamentary Committees recommendation for a Minister for Food and a specific strategy for reinvigorating the dairy industry – to lift profitability and production while addressing the industry’s economic and environmental sustainability.

With only a couple of weeks left in the campaign farmers should be asking these questions of any politician you meet. 

The endless coffees pollies are drinking to keep them tirelessly campaigning and the Easter eggs lining the supermarket shelves contain a good dash of Aussie farmer produced milk – farmers hope they remember this and think about how they can support the industry that keeps it flowing.  We are not seeing much of that yet. 

Joe Bradley, eastAUSmilk President

Dairying meets new Minister

eastAUSmilk’s President Joe Bradley and Government Relations Manager Mike Smith had an upbeat meeting with the new Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett last week.

We had taken care to keep him in the loop on major issues for the Queensland dairy industry through 2024 while he was Shadow Minister, and to build a positive working relationship with him and his Chief of Staff.

The new Minister was keen to hear about the status of the Queensland dairy plan (a draft almost ready to go out to the industry for final consultation) and other issues of concern to dairy farmers.

One thing noted by all of us is the consistency between the new government’s agriculture policy and the draft dairy plan – there’s major overlap, including the government commitment to harnessing emerging technologies, exploring new and innovative ways to improve on farm productivity and profitability, investment in industry-led best management practice programs, and growing Queensland’s farm output.

In addition to their agriculture policy commitments, the new Premier has written to Tony, advising that the Minister is expected to ensure the long-term future of traditional primary industries – which of course eastAUSmilk noted to the Minister includes the dairy industry.

Minister Perrett has been to many dairy farms as a beef farmer, local government councillor, Member of Parliament for Gympie, and Shadow Minister, but we invited him to visit a dairy farm as our guest for a briefing about farm issues, in his new Ministerial capacity. He’ll take us up on the offer once we all get past Christmas.

Tony has spent his entire time in Parliament since 2015 in Opposition, and not only has to get used to being much better able to get things done, he’s part of a government which committed to a very hectic “first 100 days” agenda.

There are no primary industry promises in that list, but as a Minister he still has to scrutinise all of the implementation proposals as they are developed.

Joe Bradley eastAUSmilk President

It is time to vote in the ADF elections

The Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) AGM is being held on 28 November 2024. NSW dairy farmer Heath Cook, Victorian dairy farmer Ben Bennett and independent director David Beca are all re standing for the ADF board. Tasmanian dairy farmer Andrew Aldridge is also standing for election.

Heath, Ben and David have been supportive of eastAUSmilk and our members. They were all central in approving our members from NSW as members of ADF. You would think it would be important for our national dairy farmer body to have as many dairy farmer members as possible. Consequently, any dairy farmers who apply for ADF membership who are legally able to be accepted would be. However, there are many dairy farmer representatives from NSW, SA and Tasmania who have actively campaigned to try and reverse the decision to allow eastAUSmilk members in NSW to be members of ADF.

ADF has a long way to go to be effective in addressing the problems that exist in the dairy industry. The ADF board is just starting the journey to fix the problems in the dairy industry and we would expect much greater outcomes in the next year. For this to occur, ADF needs a strong and proactive board ready to lead the industry in the difficult times.

I believe that Heath, Ben and David are best placed to lead the industry forward. I believe they all genuinely have the interests of all dairy farmers at heart and will fight for what is best for dairy farmers. Unfortunately, there are many in the dairy industry who are meant to look after the interests of dairy farmers but they clearly do not.

Please vote for Heath, Ben and David at the ADF election. Alternatively, please give your proxy to myself or my vice president Tim Bale from NSW to ensure your voice is heard.

Joe Bradley, eastAUSmilk President