"Actually, working for a company that exports (food) directly to...

"Actually, working for a company that exports (food) directly to China I have a fairly good understanding of the market there and what drives consumer decisions. "

AU8 business model is eating into your share of the export market and you are feeling sore about it?

What drives consumer decision is, Chinese want reliable daigao here that they can trust and buy the genuine Australian products for them and sent it over there!! Avoiding any kind of food content tampering.

"AuMake can develop powdered milk all they want (notably, not infant formula)..."

AuMake (7/8/2018 announcement)
Supply Agreement with Pure Nutrition Limited to develop owned brand A1 & A2 milk powder formula products

— Initial Annual Target Volume of 1.6 million units:
> 1 million A1 beta-casein products
> 0.6 million A2 beta-casein products
A1 product range scheduled for launch in October/November 2018 with A2 range in April/May 2019.

So, the first lot of A1 is coming any moment now, so watch out.
A2 (0.6 million infant formula) next year.
1.6 million tins of them heading to China in the next 6 months!! GLTALTH
Read the company announcements and u will not be making foolish comments here to embarrass yourself.
If you r exporting baby formula to China, watch your backside!!