Qld: Govt fails to adequately assist dairy farmers: report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2001
Qld: Govt fails to adequately assist dairy farmers: report

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - Labor's final dairy task force report proved the Howard government
had mismanaged dairy deregulation, federal opposition agriculture spokesman Gavan O'Connor
said today.

The report was released at Maleny, in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, today.

Mr O'Connor said the task force found the Howard government had clearly failed in its
responsibility to adequately assist farmers and regions through the difficult times following
deregulation.

The task force heard of a number of "disturbing" cases where the financial pressures
resulting from a greatly reduced income had had a serious impact on the wellbeing of farmers
and their families.

"This impact ranged from the inability to provide Christmas presents to young children
to the breakup of marriages," the task force's report said.

"Most disturbing of all were cases in which it was alleged that these financial pressures
contributed to attempts at suicide."

Mr O'Connor said that for many regions, especially in New South Wales, Queensland and
Western Australia, the economic changes which followed dairy deregulation were among the
harshest felt in living memory.

The federal government earlier this year announced a $1.7 billion industry adjustment
package to be funded by an 11 cents a litre levy on the retail price of milk over the
next eight years.

Labor's task force was critical of government ministers for failing to tell dairy farms
the income stream from the package would impact on their ability to access social security
income and other government benefits.

It recommended the guidelines for the package be reviewed to ensure priority in the
allocation of remaining funds be given to projects of direct benefit to the industry.

AAP jhm/sc/cjh

KEYWORD: DAIRY

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.