A NEW nine-member AgForce Queensland Farmers board has today taken over the running of the farm group from the 24-member state council as part of a modernisation of the organisation's governance structure.
AgForce general president Grant Maudsley said the new structure would allow AgForce to streamline its governance to be more efficient and responsive.
The shift to the new structure follows a majority vote of members at the state conference in Rockhampton in March.
"AgForce is very much a grassroots organisation relying on input from members through branches and commodity boards to develop and assess policy for broad acre agriculture in Queensland," Mr Maudsley said.
"Policy development will still be a crucial function of the AgForce regional councils, policy committees, and the sheep, cattle and grains boards. It's all about ensuring AgForce is more efficient and effective as we work to advance rural Queensland."
The new AgForce Queensland Farmers board is:
- Grant Maudsley - AgForce general president.
- Anthony 'Bim' Struss - AgForce Cattle president.
- Alan Rae - AgForce Sheep and Wool president.
- Wayne Newton - AgForce Grains president.
- Russell Lethbridge - AgForce North Queensland regional director.
- Guy Newell - AgForce South West Queensland regional director.
- John Baker - AgForce Central Queensland regional director.
- Georgie Somerset - AgForce South East Queensland regional director.
- Robyn Bryant - AgForce Southern Inland Queensland regional director.
Mr Maudsley said he was looking forward to continuing to represent Queensland's beef, sheep and grain producers.
"Agriculture is one of the foundations of the economy, with a State Government report out this month putting the value of Queensland's primary industries at more than $18.5 billion in 2016-17," Mr Maudsley said.
"Demand for our high quality food and fibre is growing and Queensland has the potential to almost double its agricultural industry to $30b a year over the next decade - but only with the right policy settings from governments and a measured development agenda.
Mr Maudsley said during the two years, AgForce's advocacy has helped deliver new stamp duty exemptions for farmers passing on the family farm to the next generation, a continuation of the livestock volume loading scheme and increased funding to help fix mobile phone black spots in regional and remote areas.
"AgForce also spearheaded the Fair Laws for Farmers campaign that ultimately saw the Palaszczuk Government's harsh and unnecessary vegetation management laws rejected by the Queensland Parliament,” .
"Over the next two years, we will continue to push for Fair Laws for Farmers and work hard to ensure governments and the wider community understand the vital contribution agriculture makes to the economic and social fabric of regional communities right throughout the state."
