DAIRY farmers will have a tough but fair rule book to help them negotiate a fair price for their milk says Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie.
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Speaking from Joe Bradley's Rush Creek dairy farm near Beaudesert on Monday, Senator McKenzie said Australia's dairy farming organisations had worked hard to develop rules that would support dairy farmers right across Australia.
"The code prohibits retrospective pricing step downs. It also prevents unilateral changes except in a narrowly defined set of emergency circumstances; it stops processors withholding loyalty payments from farmers who are changing processor; and it prohibits exclusive supply arrangements where other conditions would be to the detriment of dairy farmers," Senator McKenzie said.
"It also establishes a dispute resolution process, increases the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in the space and introduces civil penalties."
The mandatory Dairy Code of Conduct takes effect from January 1.
