The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has congratulated Mick Keogh on his appointment as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Agriculture Commissioner.
Mr Keogh will lead the ACCC’s Agriculture Enforcement and Engagement Unit established with funding allocated through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
QFF CEO Ruth Wade said she looked forward to working with Mr Keogh in identifying and dealing with competition and fair trading issues in Queensland agriculture markets.
“Mr Keogh brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the role as Agriculture Commissioner,”
“He has a long history of researching and analysing issues relating to Australian agriculture and he has a deep understanding of the issues that impact on farmers’ returns and the impediments to improving those returns,”
“Since the establishment of the Agriculture Enforcement and Engagement Unit we have seen an increased interest from the ACCC in listening directly to people within industry who better understand the unique challenges they face around competition and consumer relations,”
“The ACCC Agriculture Enforcement and Engagement Unit visited QFF late last year to listened to each of our industry members outlining issues facing farmers and primary producers,”
“It was made expressly clear from our industry members that the ACCC and the new Agriculture Commissioner will need to address the failure of the toothless self-regulated supermarket industry ‘Code of Conduct’,”
“QFF look forward to working with the new commissioner and will continue to act as a direct and vocal advocate in getting a better deal for our industry members’ farmers and producers.”