Seven of eight state farm organisations last week gave their in-principal support for the draft Cattle Australia constitution, Cattle Council of Australia has reported.

However NSW Farmers did not give its support and says it is still condering the proposed constitution.

“Our governance structure require these decisions to be made by the board, which has only recently been elected and is yet to meet. The NSW Farmers Board will be considering the proposed constitution in due course,” a NSW farmers spokesperson told Beef Central on Monday.

A CCA media statement issued on Saturday said the draft constitution of Cattle Australia requires a 75 percent majority in order to gain in-principle support, an important milestone that allows Cattle Australia to start accepting membership applications and make preparations for democratic board meetings.

It said in-principle agreement for the draft Cattle Australia constitution was given by seven of the CCA founding members – AgForce, Livestock SA, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Victorian Farmers’ Federation and WA Farmers. 

However NSW Farmers Association did not provide in-principle support at the meeting.

A NSW Farmers member, who asked not to be named, said members are concerned about the lack of a sustainable funding model to date and a business case and budget, and a lack of clarity in the draft constitution about what the new body will and will not do.

CCA said the constitution will be formally ratified in a Special General Meeting in September where both founding members and individual members will be asked to cast a vote. The constitution will need the support of at least 75 per cent of both groups to be passed.

The proposed constitution is being finalised and should be available within the next few weeks, a spokesperson told Beef Central.

In an earlier release last week CCA said members will be able to show their support for the new Cattle Australia Constitution at a Special General Meeting in early September.

“The in-principle agreement also allows Cattle Australia to prepare for the democratic election of directors, who will form the inaugural board,” CCA president Lloyd Hick said.

“The Cattle Australia Board members would start their terms after the CCA’s final Annual General Meeting, to be held in November.

“Cattle Australia membership will be free for the first year, and I encourage all levy payers to sign up so they can vote.

“We are on track to transition to a new, more democratic, financially sustainable and transparent industry representative body.

“All cattle producers should get involved in this once-in-a-generation reform.”

Cattle Producers Australia to hold Ekka meeting

Meanwhile Cattle Producers Australia has announced it is holding an information meeting for grassfed cattle producers at the Ekka at 10am Thursday, August 4, which will cover topics ranging from the current situation with FMD and lumpy skin disease and the restructure process for industry representation.

Among the speakers will be Queensland Livestock Exporters Association chair Greg Pankhurst who has significant experience in the Indonesian cattle and feed lotting industry and will discuss his views on the current disease outbreaks in the country.

Cattle Producers Australia members will also give presentations on questions relating to industry reform including ‘What is happening with the reform process?’ and ‘What principles should apply for cattle levy-payers democratic representation?’

The meeting will be held at meeting room 3, level 1, Royal International Convention Centre. Access into the site will be via gate #1 on Gregory Terrace. More information available at this link.