Why you may soon pay more for this common grocery item
Pressure is mounting on supermarkets to introduce a drought levy on the price of milk amid fears farmers could be forced out of the industry.
Kay Tommerup, from Tommerup’s Dairy Farm in Queensland’s Scenic Rim Region, said it’s time for change and farmers need to see “something positive coming through”.
“Every cent we’ve got is going into buying feed because we just can’t grow enough right now,” she said.
“Consumers have the power here to make a stand, make a choice.”
The suggested levy is 10 cents per litre and it’s already gaining major support from shoppers.
A petition launched by the Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation (QDO) on Monday already has more than 3000 signatures.
While the levy might not sound like much, Ms Tommerup said, for her family’s farm personally, “it would mean a truckload of hay instantly”.
QDO’s Sarah Ferguson said the aim is to start off small and look at increasing it to 20 cents.
But Coles and Woolworths aren’t on board yet.
Both cited an ACCC report from May that found no guarantee price rises in store would flow on to farmers.
But major processors Norco and Parmalat have signalled they would pass the profit on.
“So, that’s a great win,” Ms Ferguson said.
Dairy farmer Shane Hickey went viral last month after making an emotional plea to Australia’s leading supermarkets for a fairer rate for his produce as he struggles to make ends meet.
The father of three took to Facebook to say he was earning just $2.64 an hour in the last month as Australia’s east suffers from one of the worst droughts of the last 100 years.
