Dairy in Australia
Dairy is one of Australia’s most important rural industries, producing about 9.4 billion litres of milk annually and directly employing approximately 43,000 people. The majority of milk production occurs on the south-east seaboard in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Australia exports approximately 38 per cent of its milk production which was valued at $2.2billion in 2014/15. A large proportion of exports are in the form of value-added products such as cheese, butter, ultra-heat treated milk and milk powders. Australian dairy is exported around the world.
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is the national advocacy body representing dairy farmers around Australia. ADF also has a policy body called the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC). The partnership forms a national policy and advocacy body working to improve entire value chain sustainability and profitability.
The national services body for the Australian dairy industry is
Dairy Australia, the industry-owned national service organisation funded by farmer levies, with matching research and development funds from the Australian Government.
Dairy Australia has eight
Regional Development Programs (RDPs) that cater for local dairy farmer needs in Gippsland, Subtropical, Western Victoria, New South Wales, Murray Dairy, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
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Statistics and industry information
- Detailed statistics and information about the Australian dairy industry are available from
Dairy Australia. This includes data on prices, production, exports and forecasts for the dairy industry.
- The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) also produce detailed data about the dairy industry through quarterly Agricultural Commodities forecasts and publications. They are available at
ABARES publications for viewing and download.
Other Links
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Australian Dairy Products Federation - ADPF is the peak policy body for commercial/non-farm members of the Australian dairy industry and is open to entities operating in Australia who are engaged in the manufacture, marketing or trading of dairy products and/or dairy related products.
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Australian Dairy Industry Council – Represents the interests of Australian dairy’s whole value chain through is two bodies, Australian Dairy Farmers and Australian Dairy Products Federation.
The Dairy Levy
Milk producers in Australia must pay a Dairy Services Levy based on milk production. This levy provides funding for the dairy industry services body, Dairy Australia and is invested in research and development and industry services with the aim of increasing farm productivity, maintaining and developing value-added markets and products, and promotion of the industry. More information about the levy investment can be found at
Dairy Australia, or on the department’s
levies and
dairy levies page.
Importing/exporting dairy products
Imports of milk products into Australia are restricted and commerical imports will require an import permit. Further information can be found at the importing food section.
Dairy exports are regulated by Australia's export control legislation. Further information can be found at the exporting dairy section.
Other enquiries
Any other enquiries about the domestic dairy industry can be emailed to wool and dairy or
call 1800 900 090.