NSW: Children to go without morning milk under deregulation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2000
NSW: Children to go without morning milk under deregulation

SYDNEY, April 4 AAP - Children across the state are facing morning tea without milk
because of full deregulation of the dairy industry, the New South Wales government warned
today.

Agriculture minister Richard Amery said the Fresh NSW Schools Milk Program was under
threat because farmers would no longer be able to provide financial support.

"With farm gate deregulation looking likely in July this year, farmers will be needing
every full cent they can get from their product," Mr Amery told parliament.

Without the $1.1 million annual input from dairy farmers the burden for supporting
the program would fall on processing companies, he said.

"But deregulation has meant that processing companies are currently focussed on chasing
the retail dollar rather than the subsidised school market," he said.

The schools program, which provided cut-price plain and flavoured milk as well as free
refrigerators, began in 1994 and was funded jointly by farmers and processing companies.

Mr Amery said it had proved extremely successful with 2,000 out of 2,200 schools taking
up the program.

"Independent research has since shown that the consumption of milk among schoolchildren
has risen by up to 50 per cent," he said.

"The aim of the Fresh NSW Schools Milk Program was to promote longer term milk-drinking
habits and the consumption of milk is an excellent source of calcium which can help deter
osteoporosis later in life."

AAP jw/sb/bdm

KEYWORD: MILK

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