Newly elected Murray Goulburn supplier directors have flagged their commitment to resolving some of the problems facing the co-operative, including rebuilding milk supplies.
In Western Victoria, Craig Dwyer, Bullaharre, Lisa Dwyer, Hawkesdale and Harper Kilpatrick have been elected to the three board positions.
In the Gippsland region, Kelvin Jackson, Toora, was elected to replace the late Max Jelbart.
There were 11 candidates vying for the four positions, with a turn out of nearly 60 per cent of 600 suppliers, eligible to vote.
Mr Jackson said he hoped to bring industry experience to the board and would be raising the Milk Supply Support Package (MSSP) as a priority.
“That’s the main issue, which has got farmers,” Mr Jackson said.
“The other is closing the gap in the milk price, between MG and its competitors.”
Mr Jackson said he wanted to see MG come out with more positive comments, following two good Global Dairy Trade (GDT) results.
“The market is picking up, but I think MG is very slow in reacting to that type of information,” he said.
“What we are seeing is production in Europe and New Zealand declining, with Australian production down last month, too.
“Buyers are aware production is coming off and they are never going to buy dairy commodities any cheaper than the present time – all that leads to better prices, and recovery.”
He said he had spoken to the other new directors and hoped to work closely with them.
“We will work towards some consensus and try and get our views to try and constructively put those to MG to see change happen.”
Mr Kilpatrick said the first priority was getting the milk price back up, to at least match the opposition.
“How do we reward suppliers that stay, in terms of somehow getting them value,” Mr Kilpatrick said.
He said the latest figures showed MG had lost 245million litres of milk.
“That’s a key focus, initially, trying to get milk prices up and stop the haemorrhaging of milk supply.
“We need a strong Murray Goulburn to have a strong milk industry.”
Mr Kilpatrick said another area he wanted examined was the milk price structure and the difference between the value of spring and autumn milk.
But he said the mood was more optimistic.
“Anyone who understands the industry can see supply is reducing and hopefully we are going to see an upswing in prices.”
Mr Dwyer said one of his first priorities would be to see the return of transport logistics, back to the regions.
“Tanker scheduling happens out of Melbourne and schedulers are not familiar with the roads, milking finishing times, distances between farms and which roads there should take,” Mr Dwyer said.
“There are so many efficiencies to be picked up quickly, by reinstating that back to the regions.”
He said drivers were the first point of contact, for the company, with suppliers.
“If we can pick up some efficiencies there, it’s going to help restore a bit of faith in the company and something has changed.”
Resolutions seeking shareholder approval of the election of the candidates will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on October 26, 2016.
Lisa Dwyer, no relation to Craig Dwyer, is currently in the Middle East, and is expected to return to Victoria, later this week.
