Queensland concern over oversupply of milk

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 25

Queensland concern over oversupply of milk

NZPA-AAP Brisbane The Federal Government must introduce a plan to control Australia’s milk production, says the DirectorGeneral of Queensland’s Department of Primary Indusries, Dr Graham Alexander.

He said there was a need for industry reform because of a national milk glut. “There have been a number of schemes put up to try to control production,” Dr Alexander said. "Queensland favours entitlement on milk, controlled on a state basis. In effect, it’s a quota.” Dr Alexander said there was a world-wide oversupply of milk. The E.E.C. had an enormous stockpile of butter and cheese it was trying to get rid of.

“In doing so, they’re, destroying everyone else’s market,” he said. Queensland Dlawara Cattle Society’s president, Mr Clarrie Marquardt, said there needed to be stringent regulations to„ stop the dumping of surplus produce interstate.

“At the moment Queensland hasn’t had to worry about milk from other states,” Mr Marquardt said. “But if Victoria continues to put stock on the New South Wales shelves, producers in northern New South Wales will bring theirs to Queensland.

“If that happens, it will bring the whole dairy industry down to its knees and the price will fall.”