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AUSTRALIAN DAIRY Farmers (ADF) have launched a selfie campaign to push for a China free trade agreement which they say will put them on an equal footing with New Zealand farmers.
It says the campaign had reached 1.6 million Twitter users by today, September 2. ADF is urging all Australians to get behind its #FTA4dairy 'selfie' campaign to help secure a China-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) which could see $30 million in tariff savings per year placed back into the pockets of Australians.
Showing your support is as simple as uploading a #FTA4dairy selfie holding up a postive message, and posting it online incorporating the #FTA4dairy and #FTA4farmers hashtags, the group says.
"Australia's fresh and unparalelled quality dairy products are something we take for granted everyday, but Australia's dairy industry continues to be significantly commercially disadvantaged by tariffs which don't apply to our New Zealand neighbours," says ADF.
"ADF president, Noel Campbell says a China-Australia FTA that places Australian dairy on a level footing with NZ dairy will provide benefits for everyone, including the 43,000 Australians directly employed in the dairy supply chain.
"A positive China FTA will help to bolster economic growth, provide jobs, encourage industry investment, and provide Chinese consumers with the clean, green and fresh dairy produce they deserve," Campbell says.
Along with 6,400 Australian dairy farmers, Gippsland dairy farmer, Chris Griffin is up at 4am every morning milking 350 of Australia's 1.6 million dairy cows, hoping for a fair China-Australian FTA dairy deal.
"Out in the paddock today, I will be on my smart phone to show my support online for a positive China FTA that will secure a more competitve and prosperous future for Aussie dairy," Griffin says.
"Everyone needs to get involved, it's so easy – I've already taken a #FTA4dairy selfie this morning!" Griffin says
Visit: www.FTA4dairy.com.au.
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