MEDIA RELEASE Commonwealth '. elcomes Victorian
-Moe -n Dairy Support
Statement by the Actin-Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. J. D. Anthony, M. P.
I welcome the decision by the Victorian Government to
-rticipate with the Commonwealth in financing underwriting arrangements
for the dairy industry for the next six months.
This decision, which the Premier, r. Hamer, announced at
s mass meeting of dairy farmers in Melbourne, means that
. ictcria is the first State to indicate its willingness to join with
the Co. mmonwealth in a measure that will ensure s= m scability for the
industry while decisions are made on its long--er= future. I hope the
States will quickly follow Victoria's lead so -hat early
_ ecisions can be made on opening pay rates for the season
starzing on 1st July.
The dairy industry must decide whether it wants to
continue exporting and, if so, how much of its production can be exported
profitably. It will then need to determine the most appropriate
roduction levels.
Then a national policy will have to be developed covering
the industry throughout Australia.
Until this is done, and until governments know what the
industry's policy is, it is unrealistic to ask them to commit large
amounts of money to measures which do nothing to resolve the
industry's basic marketing problems.
If governments knew what it would involve, I have no
doubt they would be ready to work with the industry to devise a floor
price arrangement for export sales, and to help it get the best
possible return from the domestic market.
The States must share with the Commonwealth the cost
of helping the industry.
The States have control of production and marketing
arrangements. Some States have followed policies in thee areas which
a: e contributed significantly to the industry's pre. en difficulties.
It is good to see that, at last, there is to be an
eni 7o the opening up of new dairy farms.
But the wide disparity in returns to producers -f " city
ilk" = nd milk used in the manufacrure of dairy products still exists.
Lack of arrangements giving all producers a fair return has
contributed very much to the present crisis for producers in the
manufacturing sector.
The policls ' nave producea two classes of producsrs
are unfair and ineo~ 3.
Positive E. tms rtst be taken ro change the situation. In
this day and age arrar. e-eets are hardly necessary.
By r~ the in-stry to a certain export level
a guaranteed ar rang eenm r-c the. creation of a one-price
arra-:, entt for dz-c s cry roducts we could arrive
a stable and re,, : czabe income which would allow for the bulk of
irustry to pln : or its future.
une, 1.976