Federal Nationals Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, has slammed the NSW Labor Government’s decision to dump local milk supplier Norco from local hospitals.
Mr Hogan said Norco has been the long-standing milk supplier for health facilities from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie.
“This is a shameful decision. Norco has been quietly dumped by city bureaucrats that have complete disregard for our community and more broadly, regional Australia,” Mr Hogan said.
“Norco is more than just a milk supplier. It is the last Australian 100 per cent farmer owned co-operative which has produced high quality dairy products for generations within the local community.”
Mr Hogan has warned Labor’s decision could have real consequences, including potential job losses and reduced income for the 191 farming families and hundreds who work for our local co-operative.
“Labor doesn’t get or care about our regional communities,” he said.
Norco, in a statement, said:
“Given our 129-year heritage in the Northern Rivers region, we are naturally disappointed by their decision to no longer support local and 100% Australian-owned.
But what’s even more disheartening, is the decision to instead source their milk from another supplier with foreign shareholders, whereby their profits don’t stay wholly in Australia.
We’re not sure that this is what the people of Australia would want and know with certainty that it’s not what the Northern Rivers community want.”
Norco said this is not the first time a company with foreign ownership has been favoured over its 100% Aussie farmer-owned co-operative.
It said a similar decision in 2018 was met with fierce community and industry opposition and was eventually overturned.
“In light of the impact this will have on the Northern Rivers community and our hard-working local farmers, we remain hopeful that the decision will be reviewed in its entirety.”
NSW Nationals MPs have also slammed the decision.
“NORCO being quietly dumped in favour of another supplier is a real kick in the guts for Australia’s last 100 per cent farmer-owned dairy co-operative,” Nationals Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, said.
“NORCO has been the long-standing milk supplier for health facilities from Tweed to Port Macquarie and the government needs to listen to what our communities are calling for instead of trying to call the shots for them,” said Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour and Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Gurmesh Singh.
“I’m disgusted by the Labor Government’s latest betrayal of our local dairy farmers. It’s a slap in the face to the hard-working families who produce Norco milk and keep our community strong,’ said Nationals Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp.
