Farmers have warned a new review into the chicken meat supply chain will only delay work to solve market power problems in the industry.
On Friday the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) announced an independent review into potential market failure within the chicken meat supply chain.
It comes almost a year after a government-funded industry report recommended a mandatory code of conduct to protect chicken meat farmers from market power abuse at the hands of processors.
NSW Farmers Principal Economist Sam Miller said further research into the industry would not produce any surprises and it was time for reform, not reports, to address the significant market power misuse impacting poultry farmers across the nation.
"We've already conducted extensive investigations into the poultry meat supply chain, and the findings were crystal clear - processors are giving growers the raw end of the deal, and it is forcing them out of the industry," Mr Miller said.
"There is little to no choice in processors, growing contract terms are unfair, and there is a deliberate undermining of collective bargaining efforts within the supply chain.
"This sector doesn't need another report, it needs real reform to address these problems before more farmers are forced to shut up shop, and there's not enough Aussie chicken for those budget-friendly family meals we all rely on."
To improve conditions for poultry farmers into the future, Mr Miller said it was imperative a mandatory code of conduct was established to govern growers, processors and supermarkets operating within the poultry industry.
"Having a mandatory code of conduct enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would support fair trading as well as best practice policy and regulation of supermarkets and processors within the poultry meat industry," he said.
"For poultry farmers, this code could mean more power to negotiate and better enforceability of contracts in the chicken meat supply chain ‒ meaning a fairer deal at the farm gate.
"With the cost of living the single biggest election issue, politicians must commit to implementing this code of conduct quickly to secure the future of this important family dinner staple."
