Natalie Akers was elected to the Board of Murray Goulburn in 2011. She is a member of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and Supplier Relations Committee. Natalie is a dairy farmer, milking 700 cows at Tallygaroopna, in northern Victoria. She has a Bachelor of Public Policy and Management with Honours, a Bachelor of Arts and has completed the Fairley Leadership Program. Natalie has pursued a professional career in agriculture, including water policy and dairy research and development. Natalie is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Chairman of Dairy Australia Mr Geoff Akers is a dairy farmer from Tallygaroopna in Northern Victoria. He has extensive experience in dairy research, development and extension. He worked for Victoria’s then Department of Agriculture (Target 10 and Operation Mid Lactation) and at the Kyabram Research Institute. He spent four of six years on the Murray Dairy Board as Chairperson and two years on the National Dairy Alliance Board. He has also served as a Director of Australian Dairy Farmers Board, a Central Councillor of the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria and is a former Chair of the Victorian Farmers Federation Water Council. He is also a former Director of the Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project
During Senate Estimates, I raised conflict-of-interest concerns with the chair of Dairy Australia, Mr Geoff Akers, who admitted that his wife was on the board of Australia’s largest dairy manufacturer Murray Goulburn.
A new logo would be put on milk bottles to help consumers identify if it is sourced from a farmer who was paid a fair price, under proposed laws by Katter’s Australian Party.
Shane Knuth said the bill, which will need the support of one of the major parties and crossbenchers, establishes the eligibility criteria and legal protection for the voluntary system.
“Queensland dairy farmers are in a crippling financial crisis,” he said.
“The deterioration climate of the dairy industry is making it crucial to pass legislation that will help keep dairy farmers afloat.
“The fair milk price logo informs consumers where the milk is produced, that farmers were paid a sustainable price for the cost of a litre of milk, and that it’s Queensland’s fresh milk.”
‘No fresh milk by 2028’
Mr Knuth said an average of 50 farmers left the industry each year, going from 1500 to just 430 in 15 years.
If the trend continued there would be no fresh milk produced in the state by 2028, he said.
“Deregulation, natural disasters, and the dollar-a-litre supermarket price wars and unsustainable farm gate prices have slashed the number of Queensland dairy farmers.”
The bill now goes to the Agriculture and Environment Committee for consideration before it is debated by the Parliament.
It is unclear if the KAP bill would be passed, with the government and opposition coy on their intentions.
A government spokesman said Minister Leanne Donaldson would assess the merits of the bill after it was considered by a parliamentary committee.
Opposition’s agriculture spokesman Dale Last said the LNP had a strong record of supporting Queensland farmers.
“We’ll be keen to take a closer look at this legislation as it’s considered by the Parliamentary Committee,” he said.
-ABC – http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/10/13/new-bill-fair-price-farmers/
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