The ACCC will hold eight forums across Australia in February and March but the only Victorian meeting scheduled north of Melbourne will be at Shepparton on February 28.

The time and venue is still to be announced.

Other Victorian forums will be at Traralgon and Warrnambool.

The forums were part of the ACCC’s public consultation for its Dairy Inquiry, which is examining competition between milk processors, contracts between processors and farmers, global supply markets, and the profitability of dairy farms.

North East dairy farmers were among the hardest hit when Murray Goulburn retrospectively cut the price paid to dairy farmers for milk solids last year.

“We are interested in hearing from farmers on a range of topics, including options for selling milk in different regions, the transparency of how farm gate milk prices are calculated, and contracting practices in the industry,” ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh said.

“We are attending major dairy production regions in each state.

“I look forward to meeting farmers and hearing their views.

“If there are farmers who cannot attend but want to have their say, I’d encourage them to call or email us.”

The purpose of the forums is for the ACCC to consult with farmers, but other interested parties may attend.

The forums will be held at:

Further information on the forums and the Dairy Inquiry were available on the ACCC website. 

Separate to the Inquiry, the ACCC investigations relating to the price cuts, announced by Murray Goulburn and Fonterra Australia in April and May 2016 were continuing.

The ACCC will announce its findings from those investigations in due course.