Dairy Australia chairman Max Roberts, DA CEO Ian Halliday and Australian Dairy Farmers president Chris Griffin have all taken part in the roadshow, which has travelled to all states.

The purpose of the meetings has been to inform levy payers of the work Dairy Australia performs, funded by their levies.

Question time at the Leongatha, Vic, meeting was dominated by questions regarding the lack of voting options.

Griffin addressed two meetings in Western Australia on the same night, explaining why ADF and the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) back the 10% increase.

 “There has not been any increase in the levy rate since 1997,” Griffin said.

 “The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen by more than 36% since that time. The effect of inflation over the years has significantly eroded the buying power of levy funds raised.”

Griffin milks 360 cows at his farm at Westbury, in Gippsland, and said a 10% increase in the levy would remove an additional $45 from his monthly milk cheque.

He said it was money well-spent.
“Keeping the levy at the same rate for 20 years is not sustainable. 

“If the levy rate was left unchanged again it would compromise the delivery of Dairy Australia’s programs and services as well as severely constrain its ability to respond to emerging challenges.” Griffin said while the demand outlook is positive, markets will be more volatile because of non-food related factors that affect income growth and demand.

“Grain supply and availability is growing nationally but volatility in pricing will remain due to international supply and demand. 

“For example, production of biofuels still looms as a threat to dairy. 

“Australia’s farming systems can manage most climate change scenarios, but policy decisions need to be flexible to allow those systems to adapt further. 

“Likewise prices and export returns remain subject to policy changes in major producer countries (like the EU) and to fluctuations in currency and finance markets.”

Griffin said water policy would also continue to be a key driver of dairy viability and success and the financial implications of an Emissions Trading Scheme and carbon tax remain to be quantified.

Griffin told the audience the levy remained unchanged at the last levy poll in 2007 based largely on drought and financial conditions facing industry at that time. 

“At the time it was acknowledged that the levy would need to be reassessed when conditions improved,” he said.