Local Nationals MPs have joined forces to call out the NSW Health Department’s decision to scrap Norco supplied milk to hospitals from the Tweed to Port Macquarie, a move that could threaten the livelihoods of Northern Rivers dairy farmers.
Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, State Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, and State Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, all came out last Wednesday condemning the decision by NSW Health and Minister Ryan Park.
Mr Williamson has written to Mr Park urging him to intervene and has launched a petition.
“Norco being quietly dumped in favour of another supplier is a real kick in the guts for Australia’s last 100 per cent farmer-owned dairy co-operative,” Mr Williamson said.
“I’m calling the NSW Health Minister to consider the broader implications of this decision, because we can’t allow our local businesses and families to suffer, especially in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“Norco is more than just a brand.
“It’s an iconic and trusted brand that has produced high-quality dairy products for generations, and maintaining partnerships that support local communities is crucial.”
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has slammed the Labor State Government’s decision to dump local milk supplier Norco from local hospitals.
“Norco has been the long-standing milk supplier for health facilities from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie,” he said.
“This is a shameful decision.
“Norco has been quietly dumped by city bureaucrats that have complete disregard for our community and more broadly, regional Australia.
“Norco is more than just a milk supplier.
“It is the last Australian 100 per cent farmer owned co-operative which has produced high quality dairy products for generations within the local community.
“This could have real consequences, including potential job losses and reduced income for the 191 farming families and hundreds who work for our local co-operative.
“Labor doesn’t get or care about our regional communities.”
Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, who is also the Shadow Minister for Regional Health, echoed the concerns.
“I’ve had nurses and patients bring this issue to my attention over the past few weeks, and they’re deeply disappointed by the decision to remove local produce from our hospital system,” he said.
NSW Health declined to answer questions from the CV Independent including who the new supplier is, why Norco was dumped after having such a long-standing relationship with the government, what were the reasons for changing suppliers.
A Norco spokesperson said Norco can confirm that North Coast Health Facilities will no longer source their hospital milk supply from our 100 per cent farmer-owned co-operative.
“Given our 129-year heritage in the Northern Rivers region, we are naturally disappointed by their decision to no longer support local and 100 per cent Australian-owned,” the spokesperson said.
“But what’s even more disheartening, is the decision to instead source their milk from another supplier with foreign shareholders, whereby their profits don’t stay wholly in Australia.
“We’re not sure that this is what the people of Australia would want and know with certainty that it’s not what the Northern Rivers community want.
“However, this is not the first time that a company with foreign ownership has been favoured over our 100 per cent Aussie farmer-owned co-operative.
“The 2018 decision to do the same was met with fierce community and industry opposition and was eventually overturned.
“In light of the impact this will have on the Northern Rivers community and our hard-working local farmers, we remain hopeful that the decision will be reviewed in its entirety.”
What the NSW Government say
A HealthShare NSW spokesperson said HealthShare NSW manages the NSW Government food services contract.
“An open and competitive procurement process was undertaken with the tender for this contract,” the spokesperson said.
“The details of the tender process is deemed commercial in confidence.”
The NSW Government considers a range of factors when awarding tenders, including support for small to medium enterprise, sustainability credentials, location (i.e. regional and rural), Aboriginal-owned businesses and other socio-economic priorities.
“All existing suppliers were invited to submit a tender,” the spokesperson said.
“To ensure a decision-making process based on merit and fairness, only suppliers who fulfilled all mandatory tender requirements were considered during this procurement process.
“HealthShare NSW works closely with suppliers and potential suppliers throughout any tender process.
“Any suppliers who have submitted a tender and been unsuccessful are able to participate in a debrief where feedback on their tenders is provided.
“All NSW Health tenders are managed in accordance with strict procurement guidelines and probity measures, including a robust tender evaluation process with wide representation from relevant NSW Health stakeholders.”
Community petition commenced
On Monday, Mr Williamson was joined by North Coast National Party MPs Gurmesh Singh and Michael Kemp at a dairy farm that supplies Norco at Woodlawn, near Lismore, to launch a petition calling for the restoration of Norco Milk in North Coast health facilities.
The petition highlights the long-standing relationship between Norco and health facilities from Tweed to Port Macquarie, stressing the importance of supporting local businesses and communities.
The North Coast Nationals MPs are encouraging residents to sign the petition to send a strong message to the NSW Labor Government about the need to support local dairy farmers and restore Norco Milk to their local health facilities.
“We need to stand together and make our voices heard,” the MPs said.
“By signing this petition, we can ensure that our local dairy farmers are supported, and that Norco Milk remains in our health facilities where it belongs.”
The petition is now open for signatures and aims to gather significant community support to bring about a reversal of the decision.
To sign the petition, visit http://savenorcomilk.com.au.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 28 August 2024.
