WAFarmers Dairy Council has announced the next step in its bid to develop a Dairy Producers Committee

WA dairy farmers will have their say on how the industry will be represented in an upcoming election that will determine the future of the WAFarmers dairy council. In a bid to bolster political advocacy, a new “sustainable funding model” via a Dairy Producers’ Committee was floated by the WAFarmers Dairy Council in November, 2023. Dairy Council president Ian Noakes announced at the WAFarmers Dairy Conference last week the organisation was now in a position to conduct a poll to gauge industry interest. Mr Noakes said the committee was the “best option” and an “important step” for WA dairy advocacy moving forward. “It will develop and promote WA dairy industry policies and positions, and allow us to advocate on behalf of farmers to the WA Government and regulatory bodies who will engage with industry,” he said. The committee would fall under the WA Agricultural Produce Commission and would be made up of WA dairy farmers. It would replace the council but play a similar role — to shape the regulations and laws under which dairy businesses must operate. Mr Noakes confirmed the poll would go ahead “later this year”, following the distribution of polling information packs via mail and regional information sessions where farmers will have an opportunity to “discuss any concerns”. He said while he felt most people were “in favour” of the committee, he encouraged those who were unsure to raise their concerns. Dairy farmers have been continuing to exit the industry in small numbers which has impacted voluntary WAFarmers membership fees to such an extent that they “no longer generate enough funds to cover our core activities — policy, advocacy and engagement”. Currently, 50 WA dairy farmers — roughly half of the state’s total — are members with WAFarmers. On top of reduced fees, the council is receiving substantially less revenue from the Dairy Industry Fund — a royalty from WAFarmers First milk. The products began quietly disappearing from supermarket shelves across WA over the last year, as a result of supply shortages, falling sales and supermarket price wars. If the poll succeeds, all dairy farmers across the state would be required to pay a compulsory fee-for-service — almost doubling the available funding. A majority vote will be required to implement the change. Mr Noakes said the compulsory fee would be determined by the elected committee members but would likely be equivalent to the WAFarmers membership fee. “That’s the sort of money that we would need to run properly,” he said. Mr Noakes said the choice is to either vote for the Dairy Producers Committee or face reduced services from the council “because it’ll not be possible to continue”. The DPC has been endorsed in principal by Australian Dairy Farmers, WAFarmers and Western Dairy.