The Project’s Waleed Aly described it as the greatest call to arms he had every made on national television – asking Australians to eat more cheese to help Australian dairy farmers survive cuts to milk prices that could leave them in financial ruin.
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Farmgate milk prices have been significantly reduced by Australia’s two biggest dairy companies, Murray Goulburn and Fonterra in the last month.
There are now serious concerns for the welfare of dairy farming families.
“Because our farmers have been paid $5.60 all financial year, Murray Goulburn and Fonterra are essentially claiming that the farmers were overpaid from July last year until the price cuts three weeks ago,” Aly said.
“Now, the farmers suddenly owe Murray Goulburn and Fonterra massive debts. The average debt reportedly owed to Murray Goulburn by a dairy farmer is $120,000.”
It appears the people of Mudgee were heeding the call before Aly made it. Yesterday afternoon the local milk at Mudgee Woolworths had all but sold out. A photograph by local woman Lauren Wilkins showing the empty shelves has gone viral even appearing on news site Mamamia.
It seems that Mudgee does not need to be told, but, just to reiterate, for the sake of a few extra dollars let’s all support our struggling dairy farmers.
