In 2024, the WA Farmers Dairy Council wrote to the Agricultural Produce Commission (APC) tor request a poll of dairy producers for the purposes of establish a new APC Dairy Producers Committee (DPC). As part of the polling process, all Western Australian dairy producers will have the opportunity to have their say by casting their ballot.

Who is the APC?

The APC is a State government body established to provide a funding mechanism to enable and support participating industries. Set up under the Agricultural Produce Commission Act 1988, the Commission provides a legal framework to collect a compulsory fee-for-service from agricultural producers from participating industries which can then be invested in delivering services, projects and initiatives for their producers. Committee funds do not go to Government as consolidated revenue.  They are funds held by the Commission on behalf of Producers’ Committees and only for the benefit of the industry from which they are raised

“Producers’ Committees” are the industry-led Committees which help establish priorities, set fee-for-service rates and oversee the investment of these funds into the delivery of services for producers. 

You can learn more about the APC here.

What are the Benefits of a Producers’ Committee?

Producers’ Committees can act as a vehicle for WA Producers to address their own industry challenges. The case studies below provide great examples of how Producers Committees for Carnarvon banana producers, pome fruit producers and pork producers have tackled industry challenges head on.

Through its’ functions, Producers’ Committees can:

• provide a mechanism for building industry resilience through compensation, voluntary insurance schemes and dedicated biosecurity preparedness and response funds.

• Provide a platform for funding and delivering industry programs, representation and engagement for and on behalf of producers

• Act as a tool to attract leveraged funding from State and Federal programs - ensuring that WA Producers’ are attracting a fair share of industry investment

Producers’ Committees are industry led and strongly supported by Government.

You can see how Producers’ Committees are delivering for their industries by checking out the latest report here.

What is Being Proposed for the Dairy Industry?

In making the case for a new DPC, WA Farmers have noted that if successful, the Dairy Council would finish, as would WAFarmers dairy membership fees. A DPC would instead provide an independent, dairy-led Committee to deliver in key action areas including:

• Develop and promote WA dairy industry policies and advocate on behalf of farmers to the WA government and regulatory bodies  

• Drive industry development and community engagement - including the Dairy Pavilion

• Boost industry education, training and collaboration  

• Undertake Biosecurity Emergency planning, response and resilience fund management where appropriate  

• Identify grant funding opportunities and co-ordinate collaborative industry approach to applications Develop and promote WA dairy industry policies and advocate on behalf of farmers to the WA government and regulatory bodies

What Would It Mean For Me?

If the poll succeeds, all dairy farmers will pay a compulsory fee-for-services led by the Dairy Producers’ Committee. It has been proposed that the fee-for-service would be collected from every milk producer by milk

processors. WA dairy farmers would retain decision-making power through their Dairy Producers' Committee. The Dairy Producers' Committee would consult with their fellow farmers to determine

the fee for each year, and the services or projects to be delivered for that fee.

Proposed fees would typically be $1000 to $2000 per farmer per year, based on a tiered system according to milk volume produced, however the level of fees would ultimately be decided by the Minister after the advice from the Dairy Producers’ Committee and the Commission.

How Do I Have My Say?

The polling process is defined in detail in the regulations. There are key stages of the polling process as seen in the diagram below

The Commission is currently seeking submissions about the intention to establish a Producers’ Committee. Submissions close 2nd October 2025.

Once submissions have closed, voting packs will be posted to Western Australian dairy producers for them to vote on whether a DPC should be established, and the scope of services that a DPC is authorised to undertake on behalf of WA dairy farmers.

Next Steps

• Submissions close 2nd October

  • Please send to:

    • Catherine O’Keeffe, CEO APC

       APCManager@dpird.wa.gov.au

      Level 19, 140 William St

      Perth, WA 6000

• Notice of Poll advertising the polling date

• A range of communications activities will be delivered by APC (and industry bodies) to answer your questions

• Postal ballot pack sent out to all dairy producers

• Polling date – the Dairy industry has their say

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an APC Fee for Service and how is it set?

Fee-for-service (FFS) are the fees collected from every dairy producer, which are then used to provide industry services to producers. The DPC, with approval by the Minister, determines the cost structure / FFS rates, and these are reviewed annually. At this stage, the nominal fee model would be similar to the current membership fee rates paid to the Dairy Council. The DPC may change rates to reflect farmer priorities – decreasing and increasing in response to WA dairy industry issues.

Is this different to the Milk Levy?

The milk levy is a national levy paid to Dairy Australia who then distribute money to national bodies and Western Dairy. The FFS is to cover WA State based services. Unlike national levy programs, the legislation ensures that decision-making around the setting and use of FFS remains industry led, with decisions only being made by FFS paying dairy producers. In short, it is and will remain, your industry committee and your money.

What (exactly) can be funded through FFS?

The FFS can be used to support a broad range of functions under the Act. Such as:

• Approved projects delivered by an industry peak body or association – these might include community and industry engagement

• Researchers or research projects with associations such as universities

• Collaborative programs such as ones delivered/joint funded by DPIRD

• Biosecurity and emergency surveillance, preparedness and response programs

The key is that decision-making about what services need to be undertaken for dairy producers remains with dairy producers - ensuring that there is no ‘double up’ with federal schemes, and that the needs of Western Australian producers are the focus.

Do other industries have the same model?

The APC currently has eleven operational Committees and Subcommittees, providing a wide variety of services, to such industries as wines, pork, vegetables, Carnarvon bananas, table grapes, potatoes and pome, citrus and stone fruit. Many of these industries are subject to a federal levy program.

Their Producers’ Committees are used to:

• Address WA specific needs and concerns

• Provide State based representation, engagement and policy advocacy

• Deliver consumer campaigns, quality programs and community engagement to drive WA demand

• Leverage Producer money to secure a greater share of investment in WA industry.

Who would be on the committee? 

WA dairy farmers. Fee paying producers make up the committee on a voluntary basis and the number of committee members is determined by industry. The Dairy Producers’ Committee would replace WAFarmers Dairy Council and be funded by a compulsory fee for service from all WA dairy farmers. The Committee would have 4-8 fee-paying members appointed by the Commission and there may also be non-voting members if a particular skill set is needed.  

How would the Committee support federal policy advocacy or cross commodity policy advocacy?

If established, a DPC would be entitled to support any scheme or activity which in the committee’s opinion is capable of assisting in the production, promotion or sale of the agricultural produce.  This includes working collaboratively with State and Federal Governments and representative bodies to influence policy settings and make representations on matters affecting the industry. Producers’ fee-for-service is not entitled to be used to undertake political campaigning. A DPC must remain politically neutral - putting the needs of all dairy producers at the core of what they do.