VFF sackings: Germano ousts chicken meat group leaders

Close to half the Victorian Farmers Federation’s chicken-meat group members have already left to join a new state advocacy group.

Allan Bulleen in front of his chicken sheds. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Victoria’s chicken meat industry leaders say they’ve been “sacked” by Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano, after they moved to set up a new dedicated industry organisation.

VFF Chicken Meat Group president Vince Croston said he and other members were urging all 100 of their grower members to divert most of the $300,000 in levies they paid the federation each year into a new body – to be called the Victorian Chicken Growers Council.

He told The Weekly Times the group wanted to remain members of the VFF, but pay the same as other commodity groups – about $610 to $695 each, while putting the remainder of their levies into VCGC.

Close to half the VFF’s Chicken Meat Group members, including most of the state’s largest growers, have already signed up to the new body.

But Ms Germano responded last week by issuing letters ordering the group to “cease and desist”, announcing an audit of their governance and declaring Mr Croston, vice president Owen Shaw and all their councillors positions were now vacant.

In a letter to chicken meat grower members Ms Germano said: “as elections within the Chicken Meat Council have not occurred in line with the VFF constitution, all positions have been declared vacant by the returning officer of the VFF, CEO Jane Lovell”.

Mr Croston said it was clear “I’m no longer the Chicken Meat Group president – I’ve been sacked”.

He said the group had wanted to remain affiliated with the VFF, paying the same as most other commodity groups, but “there’s a bitter taste now on whether we want to stay”.

The sackings come despite the VFF’s own board allowing former president David Jochinke to remain president for six months beyond his four-year maximum term in 2020.

Mr Croston said “it has become apparent over a number of years that the chicken meat group and the VFF are moving in two different directions” and their levies needed to be directed to negotiating contracts with processors nationally.

“The VFF does not see themselves being involved in commercial arrangements however the chicken meat group does and negotiates nearly all commercial arrangements”.

The group also includes former group president Allen Bullen and other growers Paul Bonacci, Alan Murray, Peter Hanrahan and Paul Mannes.

The Chicken Meat Group’s move follows a major restructure of the VFF, led by president Emma Germano and implemented by chief executive Jane Lovell, which led to major divisions within the lobby group as commodity groups are stripped of staff.

Mr Croston said: “the root of all this is the restructure”.

Ms Germano refused to comment on the sackings.