PEAK producer lobby group Cattle Council of Australia has made solid ground towards turning its financial woes around but the search for a long-term funding stream continues.
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CCA posted a surplus of $521,553 for the 2015/16 financial year, almost double that of the previous year.
Finances, once again, was a major topic of discussion at the organisation’s annual general meeting, held in South Australia last week.
Chief executive officer Jed Matz said a focus on reducing operating costs where possible and ensuring all projects and consultation costs with service providers were appropriately cost-recovered had delivered the improved financial performance.
However, the future for organisations like CCA had to be a suite of incomes, not a reliance on membership fees, although that source did need to be maintained or improved, he said.
A level of member service that generates strong benefits, beyond just policy, was the key.
Mr Matz said CCA was waiting to apply for a share of the $5m Federal Government industry leadership fund promised in the lead-up to this year’s election.
It was also eagerly awaiting the final report from the Australian Farm Institute on improved resource policy development.
Commercial revenue streams like quality assurance policy were being investigated and the eventual hope was for enough to be saved for financial investments to be possible, Mr Matz said.
CCA was focussed on delivering strong policy representation for its members while keeping financials in check, he said.
“This years’ positive result has balanced our financials but there is still a need for a long-term funding stream that will allow it to restructure into a totally directly elected membership organisation,” Mr Matz said.
With Mr Matz leaving the organisation in January, the search is currently in full swing for a new CEO.
Also in AGM business, NSW’s Marc Greening and Queensland’s David Hill were re-elected for their respective independent board positions.
State farming organisation re-elections this year were Peter Hall, AgForce; Faye Tuchtan, Victorian Farmers’ Federation and Geoff Pearson, WA Farmers.
Markus Rathsmann was newly elected for the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and Amanda Giles for Livestock SA.
Ms Giles is the second previous Rising Champion finalist to sit on the Cattle Council board.
She said she looked forward to having input in leadership decisions before the cattle industry.
Shan Goodwin
Shan Goodwin steers ACM’s national coverage of the beef industry. Shan has worked as a journalist for 30 years, the majority of that with agricultural publications. She spent many years as The Land’s North Coast reporter and has visited beef properties and stations throughout the country and overseas. She treats all breeds equally. Contact 0427686187. E: s.goodwin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Shan Goodwin steers ACM’s national coverage of the beef industry. Shan has worked as a journalist for 30 years, the majority of that with agricultural publications. She spent many years as The Land’s North Coast reporter and has visited beef properties and stations throughout the country and overseas. She treats all breeds equally. Contact 0427686187. E: s.goodwin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
