Annual Review 2015/2016 Australian Dairy Farmers Is Proud to Be Part of the Dairy Industry and the Voice of Dairy Farmers
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Annual Review 2015/2016 Australian Dairy Farmers is proud to be part of the dairy industry and the voice of dairy farmers. We are a not for profit organisation, and have been advocating for the rights of Australian dairy farmers since 1942. The Australian Dairy Farmers objectives specifies that we are to provide strong leadership and representation for the continued growth of internationally competitive, innovative and sustainable dairy farming, and: • act where collective initiatives will lead to better outcomes for dairy farmers and/or State Dairy Farmer Organisations • promote the development of dairy farming and the dairy industry in Australia • co-operate with other primary producer bodies for the benefit of dairy farmers in Australia • support research and farmer extension services, and delivery of appropriate educational resources through the publication of matters of significance and interest to the dairy farm sector to ensure necessary productivity gains are made on farms. VISION A sustainable, innovative, competitive and valued dairy industry. MISSION To improve the profitability and sustainability of all Australian dairy farms. STRATEGIC GOALS The Australian Dairy Farmers Strategic Plan 2012-2017 assists the Executive and staff to focus efforts and resources, and to implement actions in five key areas. – drive sustainable farm profitability – secure market access and maximise value chain returns – develop people and build human capacity – effective communication and engagement – deliver member value and organisational capacity This Annual Review provides members, staff and interested stakeholders an insight into Australian Dairy Farmers’ strategic focus areas, deliverables, and key partner organisations during the 2015/16 financial year. TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message 2 CEO’s Message 4 Highlights for 2015/2016 7 Board Committees 2015/2016 14 Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Report 15 Directors’ Report 17 Current Board of Directors 20 Staff Profiles 23 Policy Advisory Groups 28 Animal Health and Welfare Policy Advisory Group Farming Systems and Herd Improvement Policy Advisory Group Markets, Trade and Value Chain Policy Advisory Group Natural Resources Policy Advisory Group People and Human Capacity Policy Advisory Group Member Organisations 38 New South Wales Farmers’ Association Dairy Committee Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Western Australian Farmers Federation South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (Victorian Farmers Federation) Industry Partners 50 Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme Australian Dairy Products Federation Dairy Australia National Farmers’ Federation Acknowledgements 58 Australian Dairy Industry Structure 60 PRESIDENT‘S MESSAGE I am pleased to report that Australian chain. Farmers bear more than their Dairy Farmers has fostered a stronger share of risk and financial fall-out relationship with government. We from global market volatility. We want to ensure every Member of need a practical and viable solution Parliament understands the challenges to increase transparency in the way and opportunities facing our dairy the milk pricing system works, and producers. Australian Dairy Farmers to simplify milk contracts to ensure helps our key decision makers the volatility of the market is better understand the value our industry balanced along the supply chain. delivers to Australian consumers, Improving equity and transparency businesses, families and communities, though the supply chain is one of the and highlights how decisions made matters Australian Dairy Farmers is in Canberra affect our capacity to driving with the Australian Competition produce. Australian Dairy Farmers has and Consumer Commission, Small made clear its priorities for the next Business Obudsman, and the Federal government: extend and streamline Government. access to the concessional loans and Targeted short-term assistance Farm Household Assistance for all provided by State and Federal affected farmers; create a safer, more Governments was broadly positive, resilient workforce; ensure secure David Basham first and reflected the immediate needs sustainable access to water resources; of the most affected dairy farmers. It took a position on and address the imbalance of market is crucial that the full suite of support power within the dairy supply chain. the Australian Dairy measures be available to farmers We look forward to continuing these across all dairying regions. Whilst Farmers Board from productive conversations to ensure a still addressing immediate needs; more sustainable, profitable future for August 2005 to 2012, Australian Dairy Farmers is bringing our Australian dairy. and re-joined the board focus back to addressing longer term in November 2014. Australian dairy farmer confidence has aims, and identifying what we need to taken a serious knock since the start of do to get there. David has been the 2016: the major industry report Dairy On behalf of the organisation, I Australia’s 2016 Situation and Outlook Acting President since thank Simone Jolliffe for her tireless released in early June 2016 revealed contribution to Australian Dairy May 2016. fewer farmers are positive about their Farmers as the former President, the industry than a year ago, and a likely industry more broadly, and for her 20% drop in confidence between strong commitment to dairy. I look March 2016 and the end of the forward to working with Simone financial year. This is not surprising to further our shared vision for the given the unprecedented industry industry. shock that has hit dairy farmers and their businesses. Long-term indicators Thank you to the team at Australian in the report suggest a stronger future, Dairy Farmers for your determined and it is this we must focus on to work. Thank you to the board, deliver a better future. National Council, Policy Advisory Groups, State Dairy Farmer Our first interest with State Dairy Organisations, and industry partners Farmer Organisations is dairy farmers’ for your support and commitment prosperity, and our clear intent is to in meeting the collective challenges ensure no dairy farmer is ever again so facing dairy farmers. I look forward vulnerable to processor decisions. We to our continued collaboration as must better balance market volatility we advocate for the dairy farmers of throughout the Australian dairy supply Australia. David Basham Acting President 2 FROM THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT The Australian dairy industry is The ADIC provides funding for strengthening its commitment to investment in projects for the mutual sustainability by taking a practical benefit of both dairy farmers and approach to doing the right thing dairy processors that will improve the by our people, our animals and our entire value chain’s sustainability and environment. The Australian Dairy profitability. Through the ADIC Annual Industry Sustainability Framework, Investment Plan, funds are allocated led by the Australian Dairy Industry to developing and delivering policies in Council (ADIC), is evidence of our areas where Australian Dairy Farmers commitment to sustainability, and and the Australian Dairy Products continues to evolve. We have taken Federation’s policy objectives are further steps in the 2015/16 financial aligned, including: year towards meeting the targets set › international market access in the Dairy Sustainability Framework Progress Report and identifying areas › animal health and welfare that require further attention. › environmental sustainability The Sustainability Framework tracks › highly skilled industry workforce our progress and drives practice change to ensure the industry is › food labelling systems sustainable for the long term. Dairy Simone Jolliffe joined › farmer engagement and farmers contribute to the industry’s membership of peak bodies the Australian Dairy progress on sustainability under Farmers Board in the Framework whenever they take › the development of an industry-wide January 2014, was steps to improve their business strategic plan. or their practices, or reduce their Much progress has been made elected President environmental impact. towards the Sustainability Framework in November 2015. goals in the 2015/16 financial year, and Simone held this we are on track in the delivery of these position until she projects in both the long and short term. assumed the role of My intention as Australian Dairy Vice President in Farmers Vice President was to build May 2016. stronger links with dairy farmers and ensure Australian Dairy Farmers focused on long-term strategic initiatives including herd improvement, farm business management and on-farm safety. It has been a great honour to serve as the President: I look forward to continue working with David Basham and my ongoing involvement with Australian Dairy Farmers in the capacity of Vice President. Simone Jolliffe Former President 3 INTERIM CEO’S MESSAGE Australian Dairy Farmers is a strong, Australian Dairy Farmers is advocating collective voice to government and for ways to enable farmers to better the community on national issues manage their exposure to financial affecting dairy farmers and their risk, and to advocate for targeted profitability. Since 1942, Australian assistance to help get our industry Dairy Farmers has successfully over the current hurdle. We have lobbied for the rights of dairy farmers continued to work towards structural regarding: trade reform; domestic change that improves fairness and market reforms;