NATIONAL FOODS’ USING WEASEL WORDS ABOUT MILK PRICES

While Suppliers are Gagged by Confidentiality Clause

The Tasmanian Greens today in Parliament called on National Foods to cease claiming that they pay “a higher price for their milk than any other major milk company,” following anecdotal evidence from Tasmanian dairy farmers that another large milk company pays higher prices to Tasmanians dairy farmers for all but premium butterfat milk.

Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said National Foods is also claiming that there is only a small group of disaffected dairy farmers complaining about low price that National Foods is currently paying for milk, when in fact National Foods requires all its suppliers to sign a confidentiality agreement that lasts for three years after the milk contract expires, effectively gagging its suppliers from commenting on the milk price they receive.

Mr Booth also congratulated Tasmanians for their response to the extremely unfair situation facing dairy farmers contracted to National Foods, and encouraged the community to continue demonstrating strong support for Tasmanian dairy farmers.

“National Foods must come clean with Tasmanians and admit that they do not pay the highest price for lower-butterfat milk, and that they are basing their current advertising campaign on the price paid for premium butterfat milk only,” said Mr Booth.

“National Foods should also cease claiming that there is only a small group of dairy farmers complaining about the prices they are receiving, and acknowledge that it is National Foods’ own confidentiality agreements that are preventing their suppliers from commenting publicly about the low milk price they are receiving.”

“Tasmanians have responded admirably to the terrible situation currently facing Tasmanian dairy farmers, and the Greens are calling on the people of Tasmania to continue demonstrating their strong support for our dairy farmers,” said Mr Booth.
Attached:

National Foods Milk Price Advertisement, The Advocate, October 14 2009, p10.:
Download:

Oct14_NF_Milk_Price_Ad_
Advocate_K_Booth_ATTACH.pdf
Kim Booth MP Greens Primary Industry Spokesperson