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Woolies boss pledges backing for dairy farmers
14 Nov 2003
Woolworths' CEO Roger Corbett has promised to ask the Federal Government to conduct a review of the dairy industry's rationalisation. Mr Corbett was addressing a meeting of dairy farmers in Gympie. Woolworths is Australia's largest retailer of fresh milk.
Mr Corbett, National Party Senate leader Ron Boswell and National Foods' MD Peter Margin were given a first-hand account of the impact of deregulation when they toured an Imbil dairy farm owned by Rob and Pat Priebe.
Mr Priebe has been a dairy farmer since 1948 but has decided to sell off his 200-head herd, as he can no longer make a living, for which he blamed deregulation. Farmgate milk prices have been slashed from 44 cents to 29 cents a litre. This, combined with operating and compliance costs, means the farm is no longer workable as a business.
Senator Boswell arranged for Mr Corbett to see the industry's problems up close. He said he will assist in setting up a meeting between Mr Corbett and the Prime Minister.
Mr Corbett was unable to name the price Woolies charges for its milk at the meeting. It was later confirmed at $1.31 for a litre and $2.36 for two litres. Dairy farmers get an average 29 cents to 33 cents a litre.
The Courier-Mail, 14/11/03, page 5.
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