MEMBERS of the Victorian Farmers Federation grains group are demanding more clarity in how their membership fees are being distributed.
After a business forum last week in Mildura, where concerns were raised about transparency, members penned a letter to the VFF board asking how their levies were being used and challenging current policies.
Quambatook farmer and former VFF grains group president Brett Hosking, who emceed the forum, told The Guardian there were questions during the meeting about the new direction being taken by the VFF.
“The members are noticing a difference on the ground in terms of how they are able to engage with the organisation,” Mr Hosking said.
“They are probably feeling a little bit like they are unsure of how to put an issue forward if they’ve got one, and how to ensure that when they do have challenges and concerns that they need VFF’s help on, how they actually achieve that.”
The letter stemmed from the discussion.
“Really they are putting their hand out and saying that we would like a bit more information,” Mr Hosking said.
“We would like to know how we can continue to support the organisation to achieve good things, as well as have our own challenges and issues dealt with at the same time.
“I think what struck me most on the day (was) there seems to be an opportunity for VFF leadership to engage better with its members – talk to the members about the vision for the organisation and the reasons why the changes are necessary.
“I think that’s what members are asking for.”
A VFF grains group membership costs about $700 a person, with the option to also voluntarily contribute levees from their grain sales, which many members do nominate to do.
Mr Hosking said what it all came down to was purely wanting more information and transparency.
“There was certainly no attack on VFF or individuals or anything like that,” he said.
“It was purely about some questions we’ve got that we feel like we haven’t been given enough information around changes and what it looks like to be a member of VFF into the future.
“They are just wanting to ensure that VFF will still have the capacity to serve them as members.”
The VFF declined to comment at this stage.
The letter that was sent to the VFF board
“THIS grains update calls on the VFF board to explain why the grains levy, paid by grains commodity members, is not going to where it is constitutionally intended – to the operating budget of the VFF grains group?
“As it sits now, the VFF board seems to be redirecting commodity-raised funds to prop up the day-to-day running of the VFF – to the detriment of all commodity group needs.
“Also, this meeting of VFF grains commodity members demand that there be at least one policy person totally dedicated to issues, raised by the grains commodity members.
“Grains members also demand that there be a grains specific conference held annually, in February/March, to allow grains commodity members to set policy.”
