Rene Hidding MP
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries
Sunday June 13, 2009
Fighting fund call for dairy farmers
· Dairy fighting fund, awareness campaign, called for
· Fodder subsidies and counselling could also help dairy farmers at this terrible time
· Liberals to visit affected North West dairy farmers next week
A fighting fund to help run a dairy farmers campaign against unfair milk prices should be considered by Labor.
The State Government must also consider fodder subsidies to keep dairy stock in condition and counselling support for farmers hit hard by the double whammy of plummeting milk prices and extremely wet conditions.
Members of the State Opposition will visit the North West Coast tomorrow and on Tuesday to spend time with struggling dairy farmers and better ascertain their needs.
The idea of a vegetable-rally style campaign to demand a better deal for farmers has merit and I believe the State Government should consider this idea, and contributing to it.
Farmers are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and the difficulties many are experiencing this year will have serious flow-on effects for our economy.
The raw deal our dairy farmers are getting from big corporate players – compared with farmers in other States – isn’t acceptable and needs to be tackled head on.
www.willhodgman.com.au
Rene Hidding
