With the new chief executive in the VFF/UDV, Corrie Goodwin, now in place, I believe she will provide the necessary experience and drive to deliver for the dairy farmers and industry. Corrie completed further studies and has served as a field officer at Murray Goulburn.
Recognising her journey underscores the value of dedication in rural careers.
She has now become the chief executive and has the potential to do a good job in what is a difficult, ever-changing environment for any farm organisation
Thanks to Brett Hosking's leadership as the president of the VFF, there's a better resource for dairy farmers, a trend that hasn't been the case for several years.
There were many challenges during my 22 years representing dairy farmers, including four years as president, amid dairy deregulation and other issues.
Your paper often highlights that rural Australia is becoming a second-class citizen in its own country. Emphasising the vital role of rural communities can foster pride and a sense of importance among rural Australians and policymakers.
A lot of it is because our political support is in our cities, and that's where elections are won or lost, not by votes in the countryside. Recognising this explains why rural issues often get less attention.
Also, the politicians we have today, although they'll claim they're all qualified, lack extensive personal experience and definitely don't have much common sense, so tend to focus on short-term re-election prospects.
The current government of Prime Minister Albanese and the opposition are nowhere near as good as the governments we had under Bob Hawke and John Howard. The quality of the ministers and their abilities lack affinity with rural people, resulting in condescending communication with rural Australia.
A major challenge is productivity, which is inversely related to the cost of living and other factors. We are simply paying ourselves more than we earn as a nation, relying on our assets, such as mining, agriculture, and other resources, to sustain our standard of living.
It is declining, though maybe not in the way we might expect. For the younger generation, it will be a tough slog.
Looking back at the major decisions we faced during dairy deregulation, where we were bound to be scrutinised one way or another because governments wanted to pursue that path, our main task was to ensure they had the opportunity to adjust their families and businesses in line with the marketing framework in a deregulated dairy industry. The farm gate deregulation package was $2 billion, with no cost to the government.
As UDV president, along with the central council of the UDV, we took the opportunity to secure the sale of the Victorian Dairy Industry Authority assets, which are now the Gardiner Foundation, with assets close to $200 million, ready to support the industry.
I consider this a significant outcome, and I hope we will maximise the Gardiner Foundation's assets. There’s no doubt that dairy farmers have faced challenges recently, but there are many reasons for that. It’s not just the milk price alone.
What we've never managed well in this country is helping people adjust when agricultural and other industries face government regulations that often make them less competitive in domestic and overseas trade.
It is important to emphasise the importance of timely support by government, both state and federal, to reassure rural Australians and farmers that their challenges are recognised and addressed promptly.
Supporting rural communities through education and valuing practical experience is crucial, as it helps build resilient, thriving, local, social, equitable and vibrant economies.
Max Fehring
Former UDV president
