Quambatook’s Brett Hosking elected president of the Victorian Farmers Federation

Victorian Farmers Federation members have elected Quambatook’s Brett Hosking as president, amid revelations about a potential sale of its Melbourne headquarters.

Incoming VFF president Brett Hosking wants to rebuild commodity groups, to ensure they have a voice in advocating for all farmers.

Quambatook grain grower Brett Hosking has won the Victorian Farmers Federation’s presidential election, defeating rival candidate and Werribee egg producer Danyel Cucinotta.

“My first priority is restoring members’ trust and confidence in the VFF,” Mr Hosking said. “(But) it can’t be done by one person - it has to be a team with members and commodity leaders.”

Upper Murray cattle producer Peter Star defeated Tresco West organic stone-fruit grower Nathan Free for the role of vice-president.

The election result comes amid revelations the former VFF board was involved in discussions this year to sell its Farrer House headquarters.

It is believed a number of offers were made for the Collins St property, including one by the co-owner of the neighbouring Coates building and property developer Harry Stamoulis.

However is understood the off-market process was later abandoned in the lead up to the election.

When asked about the offer this week, outgoing president Emma Germano said “the VFF board explored a sale option for Farrer House in 2024 in line with the finance and asset management strategy, and has received an offer worth due consideration”.

“Given the proximity to the VFF presidential and vice presidential elections, and substantial changes to the VFF board, any decisions regarding Farrer House have been left for the new leadership of the VFF to contemplate,” Ms Germano said.
“The VFF now has an opportunity to determine how to best utilise its abundant resource to advocate for farmers and agriculture, and I wish it every success.”

The VFF is facing a major loss of membership and revenue. Audited financials show it has lost 1585 members in three years, from 4846 members in 2021 to 3261 as of September 30 this year.

The 2023-24 financials, lodged with ASIC on Friday, show the former board oversaw a $4.4 million decline in equity as they used the remainder of the Grain Group’s $9 million deed poll fund to offset borrowings and a were forced to devalue Farrer Hose in the wake of a slump in CBD property values.

The 2023-24 annual report states “the loss for the group after providing for income tax amounted to $3.758,587 and the total comprehensive loss amounted to $4,394,174”.

The impact of the VFF’s new four-tiered flat-fee membership structure, whereby dairy and grain growers no longer paid levies, is yet to impact its finances, given it was not introduced until October 1 - the start of the VFF’s new 2024-25 financial year.