Int’l - Dairy Australia on target, but farmers in the dark
Published:November 3, 2006
Source :Dairy Australia
Dairy Australia has become well established as a provider of a comprehensive range of services to the dairy industry, but knowledge of its operations needs to be more widely known among dairy farmers.
That was the finding of an independent review of the company's operations.
The review found that the company had made an impressive start and had met or exceeded the original expectations of both industry and the Australian Government by performing well in almost every aspect of its operations.
The report – Dairy Australia: Three Year Company Review – was prepared by Sydney-based Hassall & Associates in response to an Australian Government requirement for an independent assessment of the company's operations after three years.
The review found that Government stakeholders considered Dairy Australia as professional, positive, well informed, co-ordinated and effective.
It also found Dairy Australia had implemented a flexible and comprehensive planning process that would allow it to continue to reach its full potential.
Dairy Australia chairman, Pat Rowley, says the company provides services and outcomes that are for the ultimate benefit of levy payers and often in a way that generated co-investment income of up to $80 million a year.
Yet despite these performances, the report showed the message did not always get through to dairy service levy payers or Dairy Australia members.
Chairman of the Australian Dairy Industry Council, Allan Burgess, says Dairy Australia has earned the support of key industry stakeholders through its performance, and by its sound consultation, planning and review processes.
"Notwithstanding these significant positives, the entire industry needs to join with Dairy Australia to better articulate its goals and benefits to levy payers if the company is to grow and maintain levy payer confidence," Mr Burgess said.
Since its inception under the industry/government R&D partnership model in 2003, Dairy Australia has received about $46 million in government matching funding and about $95 million in Dairy Service Levy receipts.
The full report and summary can be downloaded from Dairy Australia website.
