CATTLE Council of Australia chairman Andrew Ogilvie has taken a swipe at critics of his organisation's planned restructure who have taken to the internet in droves to bag the draft overhaul plan.
CCA released a discussion paper last month calling for industry feedback on options for restructure that would include more directly elected representation from among beef producers and a redirection in funding that would see a proportion of the current $5 transaction levy used to swell CCA's depleted coffers.
Reaction to the plan has been robust.
Here is a sample of what has been said:
"Cattle Council is supported by State farming organisations and as a result does not represent the 'on the ground' farmer who has little or no say in the organisation. Cattle Council, MLA etc need to be wound up and the whole industry restructured so producers have a true voice. Last year's experiences and the continued lack of decent livestock prices and returns to farmers means they have failed. Who wants to fund more of the same? Failure, failure, failure. AGforce, SAFF etc have all agreed with legislation that is not in the interests of farmers. They do not represent us either." - Posted by Archibald."With all of the compulsory levy money that MLA collect from beef producers, why shouldn't the Cattle Council get a good slice of this large amount of money? If the Cattle Council has more say in what is actually going on in the cattle industry, there would be a better chance that we beef producers would not be lumbered with schemes like the impractical, expensive inefficient NLIS." -Posted by Bushfire Blonde. "MLA and CCA need disbanding and we need our industry de-nationalised. The reason CCA wants Government funding is because they have lost the support of the grassroots stock owner and their membership income is in rapid decline. We do not need these amateurs - they do nothing for us; they support the animal rights mob and as a result the general population views us as weak and indecisive. They are a relic of the past and should be consigned there permanently. If the Commonwealth wants to know how we feel have a referendum of stock owners. We want our industry back and we want it now!!!!" - Posted by The Serf."Well that's it count me out - stuff raising cattle anymore - these mongrels need winding up, move on, get out, push off, shove over, get lost - GET THE BLOODY HINT! All these mongrels want is more $s in their bloody pockets - no bloody way enough is enough!"- Posted by Stuff me!"As a beef producer who has sat around the Cattle Council table and volunteered my time away from my own business, I disagree with most of the comments above. I for one am happy to say I want a well funded and resourced peak council to represent me, and the industry that I have chosen to invest significantly in. It you have differing views, for goodness sake, stop whingeing, get involved, seek election and do something about it. I have to laugh when all the critics need to hide behind screen names and pseudonyms. Come on people at least have the courage to stand behind your comments!" - Posted by Justin MacDonnell.Mr Ogilvie, who was overseas on a trade mission to the Middle East with Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig during the height of the online discussion, said he too was disappointed by the tone of most of the input.
"It's certainly flushed a lot of people out of the woodwork with grudges and axes to grind," he said. "Hopefully we can keep informing them so they no longer make such ill-informed comments.
"We've put out a very good paper, but unfortunately I don't think they've taken the time to read it and are instead just giving air to the prejudices they've held for a long time."
Mr Ogilvie said the ill-feeling towards CCA appeared to be captured in a tide of negativity towards beef industry structures in general, such as Meat and Livestock Australia and the State farming organisations, often abbreviated to SFOs.
"I don't think they understand the amount of work the industry bodies do on behalf of the general producer," he said.
"We're not asking for more money. All we're asking for is that the current resources that are available be directed towards Cattle Council so we can do our job properly.
"Beef producers will pay absolutely no more money than what they are paying now under the options paper we have released. What we would like them to consider is using some of that money to pay for better advocacy from its peak industry group."
Mr Ogilvie said if the restructure failed the result would be a weakened CCA, hamstrung in its activities due to limited finances.
"CCA has a budget of $1.3 million. If we're going to increasingly represent producers then we need more money to pay for that service," he said.
Mr Ogilvie said CCA won't be able to provide the exact figure required to fund their advocacy service until the new structure is decided.
He said industry consultation on the paper would continue for another "couple of months" with a final paper with a recommendation then presented back to industry.
A copy of the draft plan can be viewed at www.cattlecouncil.com.au
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