A group of milk producers in the the north of NSW are fuming that they will not be allowed to vote in Thursday's Australian Dairy Farmers' annual general meeting because of a constitutional requirement that voting members also be signed up to their state dairy farmers' organisation.
A proposal will be put to the AGM that the constitutional wording be "tightened up" to make clear those requirements but even if approved, the structure will not likely alter.
"We stand for the peak body. The rules are clear," NSW Farmers' dairy committee chair and temporary ADF director Colin Thompson, Cowra, NSW, said.
"ADF is 80 years old and is the respected peak body. We have a good connection with the agriculture minister. We are the recognised organisation for dairy on a national level and sitting alongside us is the body representing dairy processors."
Federal minister for agriculture David Littleproud would not be drawn in to the debate, saying only that: "It is not the role of government to decide what's best for the dairy industry, and nor should it be.
"Ultimately it must be up to industry to decide who leads it. I strongly encourage farmers to register to vote and have their say."
Disgruntled dairy farmer Peter Graham, Codrington via Lismore, NSW, refuses to join his state body, NSW Farmers, citing a lack of support for his fellow border producers who sell bulk milk to Queensland.
He has instead joined Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation, which will be united with break-away representative body Dairy Connect under the banner eastAUSmilk from December 1.
It is meant to represent dairy regions in NSW and Queensland, however, there are no restriction on farmers from other states joining if they choose.
However, the new entity is not recognised in the ADF constitution and as Mr Graham is not a member of NSW Farmers, he cannot be involved in the national peak body.
"Every dairy farmer should automatically be a member of the ADF without the need to be members of a state-based body," he said.
"That would give ADF more support, more recognition, more worth."
ADF only has 10 per cent of the nation's dairy farmers as voting members and Mr Thompson admits that the fault lies with the NSW state farmers' organisation and that more needed to be done to encourage farmers to participate.
"Any farmer who is a member of their state organisation can vote, they only need to register," he said.
Mr Graham said the impending merger between Dairy Connect and QDO was a first step towards a united voice and initially here had been a belief that NSW Farmers Dairy Committee would also join with the new union to help form eastAUSmilk.
"There was an assumption that the merger would go ahead," he said.
"Then NSW Farmers pulled out. That was a disgrace. Now members of QDO potentially have no voice in ADF voting."
This applies to only NSW-based members of QDO. Queensland members of QDO can vote.
"I joined QDO hopeful that dairy farmers would unite under one voice," Mr Graham said.
Dairy Connect board member Terry Toohey voted to unite DC with QDO into the new entity because he believed the outcome would benefit dairy producers more effectively.
"I can be a beef producer and pay my $100 to become a member of the Cattle Council yet ADF won't allow a farmer to join unless they join through a state organisation, like NSW Farmers," he said.
"State borders are meaningless," Mr Toohey said.
"Milk produced in Victoria is sold in Queensland.
"Northern NSW farmers sell bulk milk into Queensland.
"This is why we've formed eastAUSmilk, so that any producer working in that supply chain can come together as one voice.
"That was the model of Dairy Connect, representing farmers, processors and retailers - all coming to the one table.
"Now we are amalgamating to make things happen because 92pc of Queensland dairy farmers support amalgamation
"It is disgraceful.
"Recommendations in the Dairy Plan said to get rid of state entities and have one farmer representative body."
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Dairy Connect chair George Davey, the former head of the NSW Food Authority, and deputy director general of DPI, described ADF as an organisation that had failed to move with the times and that no longer held relevance in the free market system.
"ADF talks about inclusion but they are excluding potential members. That is unacceptable," he said.
"They talk the talk but don't walk the talk."
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