WA producers hope Brownes Dairy will be purchased by an Australian buyer

Western Australia’s oldest and biggest milk company is up for sale and dairy farmers hope it will be returned to Australian hands.

It is understood the Chinese owner of Brownes Dairy, Australian Zhiran, defaulted on its $200 million loan.

Brownes Dairy chief executive officer Natalie Sarich-Dayton told the WA Country Hour the sale was not affecting regular operations.

“This is purely at our parent ownership level back in China between two parties and an agreement that was made between two parties back in China,” she said.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with our day-to-day operations in WA and it’s business as usual for Brownes Dairy.”

The…