Dairy Australia’s 2020 annual general meeting held online
Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said the organisation’s online AGM would allow farmers nationwide to participate without having to leave their businesses for an extended period.
CORONAVIRUS restrictions have led to Dairy Australia hosting its annual general meeting solely online for the first time.
Six candidates will contest board positions with the national dairy authority — three farmer-nominated candidates David Beca, Carlie Barry and Phil Ryan — against three DA-backed candidates — Tania Luckin, Roseanne Healy and Paul Roderick.
To be successfully elected into the three vacant roles, each candidate will require
more than 50 per cent of the votes cast at Friday’s meeting.
Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said the online event would allow farmers nationwide to participate without having to leave their businesses for an extended period.
“(Apart from the director votes) there are additional resolutions to include industry profitability within the objectives of our constitution and an increase in the available fee pool for directors,” Mr Nation said.
A proposed increase by DA to its aggregate administrative pool will take the directors fees from $430,000 to $490,000 — a $60,000 step up.
Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation vice president Matthew Trace has previously criticised the move, which he said was out-of-step with farmer expectations.
Meanwhile, Mr Nation said the organisation would be providing an update on DA’s key activities and investments on behalf of levy payers.
“This includes how our new strategic plan will contribute to a more profitable and sustainable industry for dairy farmers,” he said.
“A feature of a Dairy Australia AGM is the session to ask questions of the board and management. You can submit questions before the AGM as well as submit questions online during the meeting.
“We’ll be using an online voting platform during the meeting. Voting will be done by logging in to the AGM with your member number, so please have your member number easily accessible. Proxy voters need to register from 10.30-11.30am. Anyone experiencing an issue should contact our helpline: (03) 9415 4024.”
Friday’s meeting will be live on a dedicated website: www.dairyaustralia.com.au/AGM
US regulators back dairy in the diet
While it may be fashionable with some to dismiss dairy, some of America’s best nutritionists have confirmed it’s beneficial to have some milk, yoghurt and cheese in our diets.
Call to examine farmgate freeze
Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan has called for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to examine this season’s static farmgate figures.