Statement from Mayor Marcus Blackie – King Island Dairy Announcement
“King Island Tasmania is cool-climate country heaven, from our luxuriant pasture comes the sweet and nutrient rich milk which has made Australia’s most famous cheese for well over a century. King Island is also famous for our grass-fed beef, seafood, world’s freshest air, world’s cleanest rainwater, tungsten and more recently Australia’s best links Golf courses. However, it has always been our cheese that has defined us. The survival of the historic King Island Dairy company is again in doubt after the Saputo potential closure announcement yesterday.
I have spoken to Saputo, also the Premier who pledged the generous support of the State Government through this challenging period. As Mayor, I will continue my advocacy and ongoing discussions with both the State Government and Saputo.
The historic and pioneering King Island Dairy company are family to all of us and a legendary Australian brand we are immensely proud of here. As Mayor, it is also personal for me, I am a trade qualified cheese maker who worked for King Island Dairy in recent years. King Island Dairy boasts the fullest trophy cabinet of any corporate headquarters I have ever visited. There is nobody in my recent travels as Mayor that I could not impress or ‘bribe’ with a great piece of our cheese! This is testimony to the quality of our cheese production, our people, amazing history of the company and brand recognition.
The second last chapter is not the end of the book, I pray there may still be a way for our historic dairy to survive. Either way we will get through this together. I encourage the dedicated staff and dairy farm milk suppliers here to make the best cheese ever for what may be the final 9 months of operation. Any company that has admired King Island Dairy from afar, now is your final chance to acquire this industry legend that does not deserve to be retired.
The resolve of our great Island has been tested in 2024 like never before, but make no mistake, we will show Australia that we pass this test. King Island Tasmania is the little island that can. Blessed are the cheesemakers”.
Cr Marcus Blackie
Mayor