Call to boycott Coles: Drought Minister appalled as supermarket giant fails to help dairy farmers
Drought Minister David Littleproud has called on Coles customers to boycott the supermarket giant after the supermarket failed to pass on a levy for struggling dairy farmers.
Littleproud called out the supermarket’s “low act” after the supermarket failed to not fully pass on a 10-cent drought levy on milk to dairy farmers.
Coles agreed to pay dairy cooperative Norco $5.25 million after the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission noticed that they weren’t paying the levy.
"They told their customers they were helping farmers, then tried keeping the money," he said on Sunday to 9News.
"Coles has shown its true colours and needs to put things right."
Littleproud is now saying customers should boycott Coles until they place a 20-cent levy on all dairy products.
"Coles should now lead the way and put at least 20 cents a litre right across its dairy range, not just on milk to show they really do care about dairy farmers," he said.
"They owe it to dairy farmers and the public for failing to live up to their promises."
The ACCC claims that Coles did not raise its payment to Norco, which is the organisation who owns the chain’s own-branded milk by the 10 cents a litre it claimed.
Coles disagreed with the ACCC’s decision but agreed to the payments in order to avoid an “unnecessary dispute”.
People are furious about the news that Coles aren’t paying the farmers as promised.
so #Coles supermarket chain asked people to pay an extra 10 per litre for it's 'home brand' milk, telling customers that it would pass that money on to 'drought stricken farmers'. They actually passed on 3.5 cents and pocketed the other 6.5 cents themselves.
Isn't that fraud?🤔— We're not going to take it any more !! (@DavidHuett) 5 December 2019
#Coles it turns out have been lying to Australians. The extra 10c per litre they charged for milk and claimed to be going back to Australian dairy farmers, DIDN'T - now there's a surprise! Farmers ended up with 3.5c (1.5c after costs). Appalling behaviour from Coles.
— John Little (@johnlittle) 5 December 2019
Utterly outrageous and totally believable at the same time. #Coles 'Pay More And We'll Give It To Struggling Farmers Milk' was, 'Thanks, Actually We'll Keep That Cash Milk'. #auspol https://t.co/a0CrGVa2y3
— Dan Ziffer (@danziffer) 5 December 2019
Others questioned whether or not the donations that they made to the Coles “Farmer relief” fundraisers were going to those who really needed it.
I made a donation over the counter at #coles to their farmers relief fundraiser. Who’s to say the farmers will ever see it?
— jenni zadel (@JenniZadel) 5 December 2019