VICTORIAN Farmers Federation president Emma Germano is leaving her supporters – and challengers – in the dark over whether she will stand again when her current term expires on December 15.
Ms Germano was elected in ballot chaos in 2020 when a decision was made to approve digital voting and postal ballots were provided only on request.
She polled 580 votes to defeat Ouyen candidate Leonard Vallance with 324 votes. Fewer than 1000 of the 6000 eligible members voted successfully.
The process was strongly condemned post-election by many members.
This year, Ms Germano is facing a tough test against high-profile farmer and former United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Paul Mumford.
Nominations end close of business on Monday.
Ms Germano told media she won’t comment on the nominations or elections, and had previously refused to comment on her performance at the helm of the peak industry lobby group, saying it “would be more appropriate when nominations close, and I’ve actually nominated”.
Ms Germano reportedly told Channel 9’s Laura Turner she would run for president again.
The paper said Mr Mumford was standing because he wanted to re-empower the federation’s commodity groups and “bring stability to its staff and board” following a reported slump in VFF membership, from about 6000 two years ago to about 4200 today.
There had also been an exodus of staff following major internal restructures, with The Weekly Times reporting 23, including former chief executive Jane Lovell, eight commodity managers, four senior executives and four policy staff, had left since May last year.
Half the VFF’s Chicken Meat Group members, including most of the state’s largest growers, parted with the VFF 12 months ago.
The board had also called every member to receive postal ballots – but had expanded that to phone and email votes given the floods.
The VFF had also called for nominations for United Dairyfarmers president, dairy representatives for the North East Valleys and South Gippsland regions, Livestock Group president and vice-president, and representatives for the Wimmera, Corangamite, East Gippsland, the North East, plus an additional councillor.
