Commerce board member resigns over dairy report
DEPUTY Laurie Queripel has resigned from Commerce and Employment amid concerns over the department's dairy industry report and the impact it would have on milkmen.
The review document, to be debated next week, proposes that monopolies on milk rounds be scrapped.
But Deputy Queripel, pictured, said that, if approved, the report could lead to 'undesirable outcomes'. He felt the milkmen were being 'short-changed'.
Because of this, he felt he could not continue in the position.
'The principal reason for my resignation is the ongoing differences of opinion between the department and myself in regard to the Dairy Industry Report.
'This situation may have been manageable had this been a minor piece of policy work but it is not.
'Furthermore, once the report has been debated in the States next week the work within C&E will continue as more detail has to be put in place in regard to the future shape of the dairy industry and it is probable that I would raise further concerns during that process.'
