The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) is calling on Victorian dairyfarmers to vote and restore accountability and farmer-led governance at Dairy Australia by removing the Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) as a shareholder at their upcoming Annual General Meeting.
UDV President Bernie Free said having ADPF as a shareholder of Dairy Australia conflicts with the organisation’s purpose to protect and make dairy farms profitable on behalf of dairyfarmers across Australia.
“For too long, the farmers who keep the lights on at Dairy Australia have watched their voices diluted by powerful corporate interests.”
“Dairy farmers contribute more than $30 million every year through compulsory levies to fund Dairy Australia’s operations, research, extension, and marketing programs all designed to improve farm profitability and resilience. Yet multinational processors, through the Australian Dairy Products Federation, retain an equal say in how those farmer dollars are spent, despite not contributing a single cent to their Dairy Australia’s funding base.”
“It defeats the purpose of Dairy Australia and is at complete odds with being a farmer-led organisation,” Mr Free said.
The Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has put forward a resolution to remove the ADPF as a Group B member of Dairy Australia.
Mr Free said the UDV strongly supports this resolution and is urging all Victorian levy-paying dairy farmers to vote YES in favour of this essential reform.
“This is a long-overdue structural fix.”
“ADPF and its foreign-owned processor members including Lactalis, Saputo and Fonterra contribute nothing to DA’s operations, yet wield equal power over DA’s strategy, research priorities, and board appointments. That’s simply not fair.”
Despite years of discussion, ADPF and its members have failed to make any meaningful co-investment in Dairy Australia. The UDV believes it’s time to rebalance Dairy Australia’s governance so that decision-making power lies with those who actually fund the organisation the farmers.
How to Vote
All levy-paying dairy farmers are entitled to vote in the 2025 Dairy Australia AGM. Every vote is crucial 75% support from voting farmers is required to pass this resolution.
You can cast your vote in one of the following ways:
1. Online:
Visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au/agm and log in using your Dairy Australia voter credentials.
Follow the prompts to vote YES to the resolution to remove ADPF as a Group B member.
2. By Mail:
Complete the voting form sent to you by Dairy Australia and return it using the reply-paid envelope provided.
3. At the AGM:
Attend the DA AGM in person (details available on the DA website) and submit your vote directly at the meeting.
Votes must be submitted before the deadline stated by Dairy Australia for them to count.