Norco dairy co-operative is lobbying state government to back-flip on a recent decision to award foreign-owned Lion a 300,000 litre milk contract over the existing, local supplier.
In moving away from farmer owned Norco, bureacrats with NSW Health justified their decision to minister Brad Hazzard by saying the co-operative “did not offer the most economical price for taxpayers”.
Norco chairman Greg McNamara said the move was a slap in the face to regional suppliers offering fair and reasonable product.
“Norco doesn’t have deep pockets like Lion, which can choose to lose dollars if they want,” he said. “To how many other organisations has this happened?”
Member for Lismore Thomas George is backing Norco’s protest and will meet with Mr Hazzard in Sydney on Thursday. On Tuesday the stoush was mentioned in the NSW Upper House by Labor MP Walt Seccord who demanded that the house condemn government's attitude towards Norco.
