The Victorian Farmers Federation has split from the National Farmers’ Federation, citing the latter’s unilateral support for a rally focused on the phase-out of live sheep export, policy development “by press release” and diminished value for Victorian farmers.
The VFF chair, Emma Germano, on Thursday wrote to the NFF president, David Jochinke, a past president of the VFF, informing him of the state farming body’s decision. It comes two weeks after hundreds of farmers rallied outside the federal parliament to protest against the federal government’s decision to phase out sheep live exports.
The VFF letter accuses the NFF of abdicating its responsibilities to govern the national organisation. Further, it said supporting the rally without adequate lead time had limited the NFF’s ability to ensure it was a “non-partisan, whole of agriculture demonstration”, even though the VFF was also opposed to the end of live sheep exports.
“The VFF is profoundly disappointed that the NFF board unilaterally decided to rally in Canberra in support of the Keep the Sheep rally without seeking members’ views on this decision, much less providing members the opportunity to vote on this decision,” Germano wrote.
“The move away from robust policy development has resulted in the NFF using policy by press release to attempt to represent farmers.
“This approach has at best reduced, and [at] worst removed the ability for the NFF to offer solutions to government that could improve the operating environment for farmers.”
The move signals a split in Australian farm advocacy, partly over the capacity to fund advocacy, and partly due to the divergence of opinions over political engagement when it comes to key issues affecting members.
The NFF does not have individual farmer members but is made up of state grassroots farming membership organisations as well as corporate partners.
In a statement, the NFF president, David Jochinke, accused the VFF of using the resignation notice to leverage its position in negotiations with the national lobby group.
“While this tactic is never constructive, in this instance it’s particularly disappointing, given VFF representatives chose not to attend a workshop in Canberra this week – initiated in part at their request – to address the same structural concerns cited in their reasons for resignation,” the statement said.
Jochinke said the NFF would continue to work with members, including the VFF, on a professional and structured process to ensure Australia’s farm advocacy model was fit for purpose but he did not address the specific issues raised by the VFF.
“The NFF is committed to leading Australian agriculture and providing effective representation to all farmers, including those in Victoria. The NFF will take appropriate steps to ensure it can continue to provide a well-run advocacy voice for Victorian farmers at the National level.”
Earlier this year, the VFF announced its intention to quit a number of other national agriculture bodies including Cattle Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Wool Producers Australia, the Goat Industry Council of Australia, the NFF Horticulture Council and Australian Dairy Farmers on the grounds that national agricultural advocacy was a broken model.
While Germano’s letter acknowledges the NFF was conducting a review of farm advocacy capacity, the review did not include inequity in the membership model.
In the past year, the VFF was granted a reduction in annual fees paid to the NFF from $220,000 a year to $40,000 on the grounds of financial hardship.
Germano’s letter states VFF discovered while its reduced fees were equivalent to the ordinary fees paid by smaller members, the NFF had nevertheless restricted its voting entitlements while the fee reduction was in place. Larger members – NSW Farmers, Queensland group AgForce, and national organisation GrainGrowers – also have their fees set at $220,000.
“The VFF continue to make the same financial contribution to the NFF as other members yet the VFF has no ability to meaningfully engage in decision making processes as a member of the NFF,” Germano wrote.
Given the long notice period, the VFF does leave the way open to withdraw their resignation.
