VFF readies to rejoin peak industry groups under Hosking

The state farming organisation’s newly elected president is looking to undo many of the changes ushered in over the past few years.

The Victorian Farmers Federation will not relinquish its membership of all peak farming industry groups, as its newly elected president looks to undo many of the changes ushered in over the past few years.

VFF president Brett Hosking said the peak Victorian farming organisation wanted to “re-engage” with the seven peak farming councils – Sheep Producers Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation’s horticulture council, Wool Producers Australia, Grain Producers Australia the Goat Industry Council of Australia, Australian Dairy Farmers and Cattle Australia – as well as the National Farmers’ Federation, that it was due to resign from this year.

“A pathway to membership is really valuable, we will talk and engage in good faith,” Mr Hosking said. “We need to be there to support them. We want to make sure Victorian farmers have representation. And in the case of a biosecurity outbreak, it’s really tough to ask them (to act) on our behalf.”

Brett Hosking. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The VFF’s new board’s willingness to remain members of the councils comes just months after former VFF president Emma Germano sent letters of resignation to all peak farming industry groups as the lobby group addressed its “future organisational viability”.

Mr Hosking said the VFF was however unable to pay the amount it has historically paid in membership fees.

“We do not have the resources to pay that amount. What membership looks like will be part of the discussion,” he said.

“Dairy is one of the more expensive memberships. Working out what’s equitable is a challenge and something that will come down to a conversation with each group.”

NFF president David Jochinke said the organisation was engaging closely with the VFF.

“We’re continuing to work internally with members to ensure (our advocacy) model is sustainable and meeting the needs of farmers into the future,” Mr Jochinke said.

“Of course the VFF is a central part of that work and we’re continuing to engage closely with them.”

Mr Hosking has also flagged the VFF board would consider the reintroduction of levies, which were removed in November 2023 when a new membership structure was introduced, and at raising the tenancy of the VFF’s Farrer House headquarters.

The VFF will hold its first board meeting in early February.