Pastoralists of West Darling join the NFF

FROM today, the Pastoralists’ Association of West Darling (PAWD) is the newest addition to the swelling ranks of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) – officially joining the peak farm body as an Associate Member.
Under its new membership structure, which came into effect on 1 July 2009, the NFF has expanded its representational approach beyond the traditional state and commodity group members, recognising the changing face of the Australian farm sector.
“Central to the changes we’ve made is the need for the whole of farming in Australia to have a stake in the national issues that increasingly affect what and how we farm,” NFF President David Crombie said.
“While at the centre of our representative base remain the states and commodities, we have broadened the ability for others to be part of the NFF and its agenda-leading endeavours and, in turn, we can capture and harness the full gamut of agricultural activity.
“With the PAWD coming on board from today, it signals the extent that farmers can be part of the NFF family and put their issues on the national policy setting table. We look forward to the PAWD adding their voice to national farm issues.”
PAWD President Rob Seekamp said his group has been a long-standing supporter of the NFF but, until the recent membership restructure, was unable to be a member.
“We’re a small organisation which represents the special interests of dry land graziers farming in the far western area of NSW, but no less invested in the national issues besetting farm production,” he said. “While, as a small Associate Member of the NFF, we will have no voting rights, it is nevertheless important that we get behind the NFF.
“We look forward to adding our voice to the NFF chorus in pressing common goals. The NFF is at for forefront of mainstream policy and advocacy and we have a responsibility to support the NFF in every way possible. Likewise, the NFF has listened to the needs of farmers and heeded the realities of modern farm production in its restructure.
“The big national issues – climate change and the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, water reform and property rights, drought, and a competitive environment for Australia’s farm produce – aren’t going away and, with the NFF, we need to be involved.”
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