In a scathing letter to The Weeky Times, Leonard Vallance said there was “now an expectation for change to a stronger commodity-based member organisation working together on cross-commodity issues for the betterment of Victorian agriculture”.
“It’s time we became a grass roots-member-focused organisation and ditch the top-down corporate model,” he said.
A UDV-led Dairy Advocacy Reform Team review has called for the state-based dairy lobby to align with ADF and pay the VFF on a fee-for-service basis.
However, such changes would require change to the VFF constitution, which demands all commodity groups’ “funds are expended consistent with the Federation’s objects”, with one of those objects (Sec 2.1.3) being “to unite Victorian Agricultural industries in one organisation”.
Any constitution change would have to go to an annual general meeting of the VFF or require the UDV to call for an emergency general meeting of the federation.
UDV councillor John Versteden, who chaired the DART team, refused to comment or provide details of his group’s recommendations.
However, VFF president David Jochinke said the VFF and UDV wanted to make sure members were consulted on the DART recommendations.
UDV president Adam Jenkins said the constitution would only change if that was what farmers wanted and voted for.
“The DART review has a number of recommendations that suggest better representation for Victorian agriculture and more efficient representation for Victorian dairy farmers,” Mr Jenkins said.
He said the DART review would be made public in coming months.
The first dairy farmer president of the VFF, Alex Arbuthnot said strength was in a united voice.
“All major Victorian farmer commodities should align with the VFF to ensure there is a strong Victorian voice for agriculture and the farmer,” Mr Arbuthnot said.
“The ADF is an important national group for dairy and the UDV but it is essential that the UDV is always a member of the Victorian voice, the VFF.”
Link: http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/vvff-splinters-in-udv-breakaway/news-story/bc9927214c9993b8dcf198ac9396a5be
