New NFF leader says land use conflicts and getting ag in mainstream conversations key challenges

National Farmers' Federation's interim chief has warned Australia's ‘broken link’ between farming and food production must be fixed as the peak body faces internal tensions.

Su McCluskey, interim CEO of NFF. Picture: Kate Dowler

Yass beef farmer and “passionate” agriculture advocate Su McCluskey may be leading the National Farmers’ Federation temporarily, but what is expected to be a six-month tenure comes when the NFF, and rural communities, face major challenges.

In a sit down with The Weekly Times in her first week in the job, Ms McCluskey pointed to the need to get agricultural messages “mainstream” and not pushed to the side of the national agenda.

The new boss takes the reins as interim chief executive officer as the peak organisation continues its search for a permanent replacement.

Ms McCluskey also flagged her desire for the NFF to tackle “head on” land use conflicts facing rural communities as the renewable energy transition gathers pace.

And, as some state farmer organisations move to resign from the NFF, Ms McCluskey said another key part of her role would be taking a new advocacy plan to members council in October.

Ms McCluskey is not new to the NFF; she first held a role in tax policy 25 years ago.

Like then, farmers and small businesses now remain the engine room of Australia’s economy, she said, and while corporates played a role, “the vast majority of farmers are family farms”.

It was, however, now harder to support multiple generations from a family farm, meaning diversification and off-farm income, supported by vibrant rural and regional communities, was vital.

But in the national conversation, “the link between agriculture and farming and the production of food and fibre has been broken,” she said, noting many people didn’t know where their food came from. “The production of safe, healthy, nutritious food and fibre is absolutely critical and underpins our national security,” Ms McCluskey said.

“I’m really keen to get us having mainstream messages and not have agriculture, put to the side.”

On land use, Ms McCluskey said “there are competing priorities for land and inevitably there will be trade-offs”.

“I’d like we think this is something we (NFF) take head on,” she said, adding the NFF should have an authoritative voice and lead that conversation.

While some farmers could diversify income with energy projects on their land, the impact on neighbours or local communities had to be considered.

The National Food Security Strategy would be a key document that should look at land use, and could also expand opportunities Australia has in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to provide and safe and secure food and services, she said.

On membership issues facing the NFF, Ms McCluskey said “we’ve started a process around about advocacy” and “one of my key roles will be to take to members council the next step of what we will be looking to do there and having those conversations”.

“We need to be here to be able to influence politicians, with the bureaucracy. That’s really important, that we can work with the bureaucracy, because that’s where a lot of the policy advice gets developed.”