Farmers’ petition for postal ballot to elect new VFF president

A petition has been launched, quickly gaining members signatures, to demand Victorian Farmers Federation presidential elections by November.

Time to vote: Orbost beef producer Chris Nixon has launched a campaign to get the VFF’s elections back on track. Picture: Andy Rogers

EXCLUSIVE: VICTORIAN Farmers Federation members are demanding the right to vote for a new president by at least November, after their board deferred elections due last month until February.

The VFF board first announced the delay in May, citing concerns over COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, despite there being no barriers to the traditional practice of sending postal ballots to members for voting.

But Orbost beef and dairy farmer Chris Nixon has dismissed the delay as a “sham”, saying the VFF needed to go ahead with elections.

Mr Nixon said VFF board members were “kidding themselves” if they thought Victorians were going to be free of COVID-19 restrictions by February.

“Let’s get on with it and move to hold elections,” Mr Nixon said. “Is the board going to act on the wishes of members and let democracy work?”

Mr Nixon, who is also a former VFF livestock group president and director, said he had started gathering the 100 signatures needed to call for an extraordinary general meeting of members, saying 40 farmers had made commitments within hours of him sending out an email on Saturday seeking support.

The signatories have called for a motion to be put to an EGM that states: “We the members of the VFF direct the board to hold the usual elections of the VFF this year as directed by the constitution under rule 10.2.1 which states: The elections will take place at a date specified by the Board in line with the term of office for the President and the Vice President”.

Current president David Jochinke’s four-year term ended last month, but to date he has refused to comment on the issue, deferring to the VFF’s media officer, who referred back to a May 15 media release outlining the board’s original decision.

Mr Jochinke did not respond to The Weekly Times, when contacted for comment yesterday.

But Mr Nixon said Mr Jochinke had asked him to delay lodging the 100 signatures until 4pm Friday, so the VFF board could decide “what they wanted to do with the information”.

The explanatory notes to the signatories’ motion, calling for an EGM, states:

“Due to the unusual events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic the current board thought it prudent to delay Elections until face-to-face meetings may resume. The suggestion being February 2021.

“We believe the elections should be held by November. This decision actually breaches the VFFs own constitution on the holding of elections which is actually silent on the delaying of elections.

“We now know that we have no idea how long the pandemic restrictions will continue on into the future.

“Members have grown used to Town Hall meetings by phone. Zoom conferences. Microsoft teams and host of other electronic communication methods.

“This is the future we have to get used to and as such the board has to adhere to the constitution as stated above and hold elections as soon as practical. 60 days from the holding of the EGM. A delay of 90 days will see these elections occur next year which is a serious breach of the constitution and directors’ duties.

“Many other member organisations and corporations have this same problem. Most are tackling this issue head on to retain some semblance of normality.

“As a dynamic progressive organisation. There is no impediment why our member body cannot do the same.”

Mr Nixon’s campaign comes as other parts of society moves ahead with zoom, Webex and other forms of online meetings, while running postal ballots when needed.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has already announced local government elections will go ahead in October, despite COVID-19 restrictions, with voters using postal ballot packs.