Victorian Farmers Federation commodity presidents write open letter to management

Group presidents within the VFF have issued a joint letter to president Emma Germano and management, claiming its constitution is not being followed.

The Victorian Farmers Federation’s commodity group presidents are urging the organisation’s top brass to change tack in 2024, claiming its constitution is not being followed.

United Dairyfarmers Victoria president Bernie Free has joined forces with VFF livestock president Scott Young, VFF grains group president Craig Henderson, VFF eggs group president Tony Nesci and VFF pigs group president David Wright to write a letter calling on Farrer House to improve its relationship with the commodity groups.

VFF horticulture group president Nathan Free is understood to be the only one not to have signed the letter, released today.

The group leaders claim VFF president Emma Germano has failed to adequately engage with them or their members.

“The shortage of staff for the commodities is very frustrating for the commodity presidents who need to do work on important policy issues,” the letter claims.

“We are asked about commodity policy work by members and have to say ‘no staff’.

“When one commodity in one group does have some policy work done, none of the other commodity groups can have any work done, as one person can only do so much – regardless of their ability.”

South West Victorian dairy farmer Bernie Free. Picture: Karla Northcott

VFF grains group president Craig Henderson said the fact most commodity presidents were signatories showed they were not isolated voices for change.

“Everyone can’t be wrong and Emma (Germano) is the only one that’s right. There are so many farmers across all sectors frustrated with the direction of the VFF,” Mr Henderson said.

“When you call up the VFF to get something done, calls aren’t answered, letters aren’t responded to. This isn’t just a grains group problem, or a dairy problem.

“Right across the VFF, the members aren’t being listened to and that’s why we’re standing up and making this plain to everyone.”

The joint communique is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute within the VFF between Ms Germano and a number of leading farmer members.

In June 2023, a number of VFF members moved to dissolve the organisation’s board and remove the president and vice president, alleging poor financial management, communication and a decline in membership.

By October, Rupanyup farmer Andrew Weidemann launched a legal challenge against the VFF in the Federal Court, which revealed there was no mechanism to remove its president.

Ms Germano said “accusations of instability within the VFF are only being made by those who want to continue the infighting”.

“Times have changed and the notion of rewinding the VFF back decades is completely out of touch,” she said.

“That operating model no longer gets farmers the outcomes that we need.

“Farmers and members have had a gutful of this nonsense and want us to focus on the issues that matter. That’s what I was elected to do and I’m fully committed to seeing this necessary update to the VFF through to the end of my term.”

JOINT COMMUNIQUE FROM COMMODITY PRESIDENTS

We are concerned about our Federation.

The Constitution is not being followed. For example, the non-payment of the money to ADF

without consulting the UDV Policy Council, who could have informed the Board that the

money is raised by a special levy, so no effect on the Budget. Also, the UDV Policy Council

was not given the opportunity to decide about nominees to ADF Council, initially, but when

it tried (to comply with the Constitution), the names were not passed on to ADF.

Clearly, past Directors have been dissatisfied in the last year, and the Board appears to be

happy to go to court rather than talk to members. UDV and Grains have both tried, but the

Board and Ms Germano have refused.

And of course 3 CEO’s have left the Federation recently. This shows a problem with

communication between the Board, or individuals within it, and those CEO’s.

The shortage of staff for the Commodities is very frustrating for Commodity Presidents’ who

need to do work on important policy issues. We are asked about Commodity policy work by

members and have to say ‘no staff’. When one Commodity in Animals group does have

some Policy work done, none of the other Commodity groups can have any work done, as

one person can only do so much – irregardless of their ability.

When the President ran Roadshows around Victoria recently, they were not meetings of

members talking to the President (and staff) but, rather, the President talking to members

about everything, but the advertised proposed Constitution.

We are also very concerned about the proposed Animal Care and Protection Bill as an

example of how not to handle communication. When the President and CEO, and staff, have

meetings with Government Ministers, advisors and AgVic staff, there is a poor flow of

information on current advocacy work with Government from the President, CEO and staff

to members. We need to be updated on the outcomes of the meeting by a short memo as

soon as possible.

Further, we are not getting access to Ministers. In the past, the VFF President would attend

the first meeting with the Commodity President and the Minister to introduce a new

Commodity President. Not now.

Further there is a lack of information around the Commodity Group Funds in the 2022-23

Financial report. This again breaks the Constitution. Information around their levy funds is

particularly important for Grains and UDV. In the past they have used these funds to do

urgent policy work.

In total, the VFF Commodity Presidents listed below, are concerned that the Federation is

losing face with Government, Media and Members This has caused members to leave and

reduced the income of the organisation.

We need you, our farming members, to get behind our commodity groups and build VFF

once again into a strong grassroots membership organisation.

Joint statement on behalf of the presidents and vice presidents of the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria, grains, livestock, pigs and eggs groups.