Dairy Reform Objectives Still Valid
Dairy Reform Objectives Still Valid
Hon Bill
English
Treasurer
Hon John Luxton
Minister for Food,
Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control
Rt Hon Sir William
Birch
Minister of Finance
Hon Max Bradford
Minister
for Enterprise and Commerce
27 August 1999
For
Immediate Release
Dairy Reform Objectives Still Valid
Working with the Commerce Commission to get approval for the Mega Co-op remains the responsibility of the dairy industry and its leaders, Government Ministers said today.
They were commenting following the release by the Commerce Commission of its draft determination on the application by the dairy industry for authorisation to a merger of the Dairy Board and the co-operative dairy companies.
"The overall objectives of the dairy industry reforms are not affected by this decision.
"The strategy planned by the dairy industry and supported by the Government is to position the industry better and on a more commercial basis to grow both its sales and its earnings, thereby improving the incomes of farmers and the wealth of rural communities.
"It is hugely important to New Zealand we make progress on these issues.
"However, there are four separate and significant hurdles to be overcome before the dairy industry reforms can be implemented. These are:
· passing of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Bill; · Commerce Commission approval to the formation of the mega co-op; · agreement between the existing co-operative dairy companies on the terms of the merger; and · a 75% majority vote in support of the mega co-op by the farmer members of each of the merging co-operative dairy companies. "Achieving the three latter steps is clearly the responsibility of the industry. The Government has made a commitment to having the Dairy Bill passed. It is due to be reported back from select committee on Monday.
"There has always been the possibility that the draft determination of the Commerce Commission on the merger application would be unfavourable. In discussions between dairy industry leaders and Ministers, it was accepted that it was the industry's responsibility to work with the Commerce Commission to achieve a favourable decision.
Ends