Former Coolup dairy farmer Pino Gangemi is suing farm lobby group WAFarmers claiming that he lost 100% of his income overnight due to industry deregulation, and market watchers are wondering whether he could pave the way for hundreds of similar compensation cases.

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The West Australian (WA) dairy industry was deregulated in July 2000, but Gangemi, 62, is the first farmer to sue directly for the loss of property rights and income associated with the process.


He claims WAFarmers misrepresented his interests and destroyed his livelihood when it gave the former WA primary industry minister the go-ahead to deregulate the industry. Gangemi adds that WAFarmers misled the Minister because not all dairy farmers in the state actually belonged to its organisation.


Proceedings began in the Supreme Court yesterday [Thursday] and lawyers for WAFarmers first attempted to have Gangemi’s claim struck out. Lawyer Peter Johnston insisted that the case should be taken directly to parliament, since “if it is the case the Parliament has been misled then it’s for it to impose remedies and sanctions”.

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