Fed: Farmers vowing to become political force on deregulation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2000
Fed: Farmers vowing to become political force on deregulation

Dairy farmers have expressed their anger over the industry's deregulation by using
cow pats to spell out the word HELP in front of parliament house.

The New South Wales farmers went to Canberra to put their views on deregulation to
Agriculture Minister WARREN TRUSS.

A report compiled by the Australian Milk Producers' Association estimates $750 million
has been transferred from farmers and milk consumers to supermarkets because of deregulation.

The association believes deregulation, introduced earlier this year, will force between
10,000 and 15,000 farmers off the land while actually increasing the price of milk.

The association's president, southern New South Wales dairy farmer JOHN CARTWRIGHT,
says only supermarkets and multi-national companies have benefited from deregulation.

He said dairy farmers would be looking at all political parties to determine which
ones back the dairy industry.

AAP RTV sw/daw/wz/jn 9

KEYWORD: DAIRY (CANBERRA)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.