The National Farmers Federation is trying to ‘keep hushed’ a move that will allow major corporate agriculture corporations both pre and post farm gate to gain membership of the ailing farm lobby group.
In a bid to revive its ailing finances NNF - what is supposedly Australian farmers peak lobby group is moving to allow major corporations to be members with the same status as the major State based peakfarming bodies like AgForce, NSW Farmers and Victorian farmers.
The main reason behind the NFF’s flagging support is that it is already perceived by a lot of grass roots family farmers as only representing the interest of large corporate agriculture companies or as it is known in the bush - ‘the big end of town’.
This is part of the reason that the South Australian and Western Australian farm bodies have already resigned their membership of the NFF.
Currently only peak farming bodies can be members of the NFF. The move to open up the membership to large corporates is a disgrace, and typical of the incompetent leadership of President David Crombie [pictured].
When pressed on the issue Crombie insists that no final decission has been made. That decision is due in the next few weeks. The NFF has tried to keep this change ‘under wraps’ because they know just what a sell out of Australian family farmers this is.
If the NFF had been doing its job properly they would not be in the position that they are. Ordinary farming families have given up any hope that the NFF represents them as a lobby group, whilst responsible state farmer organizations have also deserted them as they tired of the NFF ignoring policies they put forward from their grass roots members.
My suggestion would be that if the NFF goes ahead with the move to let the corporates in, members of the State farming groups should lobby their associations to resign from the NFF. This would leave the NFF to openly be what they really have become - a lobby group for the interests of major corporate Agriculture businesses in Australia.
Have Your say!
I was in the Cattlemen’s Union in 1978 and saw the formation of NFF.I have seen it “sell out” farmers ever since as its CEO’s climbed the Canberra political/ consultancy ladder.
The formation of a public Agricultural company by the last NFF President and the Chairman of Woolworths said it all.
I gave evidnece at the ACCC Grocery Inquiry and was sickened by the NFF sell out at that Inquiry.
The sooner NFF is wound up , the better.
The NFF (No Family Farms) was originally set up for corporate farms. The initial push around Australia was to tell farmers to sell out to the corporations and manage the farms for them. It was get big or get out. Who could believe it has just recently become the aim?
What’s changed. David Crombies allegiances to the ‘big end’ was evident on the MLA.
It would be refreshing to have the supposed leaders of our rural industries in touch with small, but very efficient family operations.
Both NFF & MLA have lost touch with a very important sector that they should be looking out for.
“The NFF has tried to keep this change ‘under wraps’ because they know just what a sell out of Australian family farmers this is.”
They should be tried for TREASON the CREEPS
“a lobby group for the interests of major corporate Agriculture businesses in Australia”
THEN THE GM PUSH WILL REALLY BE ON - that was part of the reason they were hell bent on destroying our AWB