NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

18 January 2006

EGG INDUSTRY CRISIS: SAFF COUNTING ITS CHICKENS

BEFORE THEY’RE HATCHED

A News Release by the South Australian Farmers Federation (SAFF) released last night ‘A united egg industry moves forward’ has been criticised by major egg producers as “premature and misleading”.

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon who facilitated a meeting of major egg Producers at Parliament House last night and this morning (and who has been working with egg producers since late last year) says:

“Progress has been made to put details of a proposal to the Government in an expected meeting with the Premier on Friday – but for SAFF to say ‘egg industry representatives today got behind a proposal being driven by SAFF’ is misleading”.

 “And to portray this group of producers as a ‘breakaway group’ (as stated by the Premier on radio yesterday) is nonsense.  This group represents the majority of egg production in this State”.

Mark Bressington, from Golden Eggs, the State’s largest egg producer says:

“I haven’t even seen the SAFF proposal – how am I supposed to sign off on something I haven’t seen?  I want all egg producers to see the proposal and for the egg industry to be in agreement before it is signed off.  SAFF can’t speak for me and other producers unless we have signed off on it”.

“Carol Vincent from SAFF has no right to speak on my behalf or for other major producers without our specific approval.  She can’t play God with my future”.

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075