If ever there was a time to consider the political policies of ‘deregulation’ one no need look further than the current devastation to dairy farmers in the Australian dairy industry.
For years and years the major political parties have spruiked the virtues of ‘free market economic’ policies – cheaper products by greater competition. Since the 1980s under Hawke and Keating with the introduction of deregulations and privatisations, has seen many a disaster, and destabilisation of the economic system where market forces have dominated government thinking.
It is abundantly clear the major corporate dairy companies used their market power in slashing milk prices to dairy farmers. Why? There is an over production of milk on a global scale. This is indicative of the capitalist system, in its cyclical economic crises, so in order to maintain profitability dairy corporations have slashed milk prices to dairy farmers.
So what do we do as consumers and voters to defend the ravages of corporate power? This raises ethical and ultimately political questions, and the issue of solidarity with dairy farmers becomes paramount. A milk levy has been proposed.
The Liberal/National parties are obsessed with continuing the irrational, inhumane policies of neo liberalism.
Is this the kind of Australia we want, as we continue to witness the tragic and inequitable results of privatisations, deregulations?
Boyd Kellner, Newrybar
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
