Australia’s dairy farmers have turned out in force and clearly voted in favour of maintaining the Dairy Service Levy at its current rate.

The levy funds a range of services including research, development and the promotion and protection of the dairy industry’s interests within Australia and internationally.

The results of voting in Dairy Poll 2007 were announced in Melbourne earlier today and show that more than two thirds of votes (68 per cent) were cast in favour of either keeping the Dairy Service Levy at its current rate (64 per cent) or increasing it (4 per cent).  These were first preference votes.

Dairy Australia chairman and dairy farmer Max Roberts said the industry had achieved two important goals. “We sought maximum voter participation and we wanted farmers to cast an informed vote,” he said.

“This result clearly shows the industry’s commitment to collective action, even at a time when many dairy farmers are only just managing to cope with the effects of drought. It is an indication of confidence in their industry and recognition of the services funded by the levy.

“In particular dairy farmers recognise that their collective investment enables them to be innovative and internationally competitive and they recognise instinctively the need for the dairy industry to be promoted and protected.

“Notwithstanding the strong vote in support of the levy, we acknowledge that those who voted to discontinue it reflect a range of views and the difficult circumstances under which many farmers are operating.

“In times such as this, it emphasises all the more strongly how much we need to better demonstrate to farmers the benefits of their levy and the range of services funded by it.”

Mr Roberts said a total of 9540* ballot papers were distributed and 5039 or 53 per cent were returned. “This is a strong result and certainly one of the better participation rates in a poll of this type,” he said.

Dairy Australia will forward the results of the ballot and their recommendation to maintain the levy at its current rate to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Mr Peter McGauran. He is expected to determine a final rate within weeks of receiving the result.

The Dairy Service Levy Poll was accompanied by a nation wide series of consultation meetings from northern Queensland to Western Australia.

Mr Roberts said the advice, assistance and support of Australian Dairy Farmers, Australian Dairy Products Federation, dairy companies and the dairy industry’s eight Regional Development Programs was vital throughout the development and delivery phases of the poll which was conducted between February 12 and March 16.

The levy represents an average dairy farmer investment of about $3150 for every million litres of milk they produce.  Last year it raised about $32 million and attracted almost $15 million in matching government funds.

Dairy Australia was formed in 2003 from two previous bodies, the Australian Dairy Corporation and the Dairy Research and Development Corporation. It is the first time dairy farmers have been able to formally indicate their level of support for the levy.

The key levy poll results were:

* This figure is based on farmers who contributed levy funds in FY 2005-06 

ENDS

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