National Farmers' Federation


The National Farmers' Federation is an Australian non-profit membershipbased organization that represents farmers and the agricultural sector in Australia. Historically, NFF was a key player in a number of industrial relations disputes, including Australia's infamous waterfront dispute; the shearing wide comb dispute; and the Mudginberri dispute.
The current president of the National Farmers' Federation is Fiona Simson since November 2016; the organisation's chief executive officer is Tony Mahar, since April 2016.

Key policy priorities

The NFF's key policy areas include farm business and productivity; access to markets; digital connectivity; natural resource management; biosecurity, health and welfare; education and training; and workplace relations. The NFF has been involved in a number of major policy debates in Australia, including most recently, the backpacker tax, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, carbon tax, foreign investment, drought policy reform and livestock exports.
In February 2013, the NFF released the first Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The blueprint is a strategic plan for the Australian agricultural sector and its supply chain, setting out its future direction. The blueprint is the first cross-industry plan for the sector, developed by the sector. In 2013, the NFF moved into the legacy phase of the blueprint: turning the blueprint document into action. The blueprint was developed with the support of Westpac, Woolworths and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with Westpac and Woolworths continuing their support into the legacy phase, along with new partners Bayer and Syngenta Australia.
In December 2015 the National Farmers Federation launched a new program to use digital technology to improve agricultural efficiency. The program comprises three components:
The NFF was formed in 1979. NFF policy is set by the NFF Members' Council, which comprises the presidents of the NFF's 31member organizations
NFF's members are the state-level farmers' organizations, national commodity councils, and other affiliated members. According to the NFF charter, state-level farmers' organizations represent the interests of the agricultural sector in their respective states. Issues related to individual commodities or interstate/national farming concerns are represented by relevant national commodity councils. The NFF focuses on those policy issues that affect all farmers, regardless of location or commodity. These include such issues as farm business and productivity, access to markets, natural resource management, biosecurity, animal health and welfare, education and training and workplace relations.

NFF membership

The NFF's 31member organizations are:

President

The following people have served as president of the National Farmers' Federation:
NameTerm startTerm endTerm of office
Sir Donald Eckersley 19791981 years
Michael Davidson 19811984 years
Hon. Ian McLachlan 19841988 years
John Allwright 19881991 years
Graham Blight19911994 years
Donald McGauchie 19941998 years
Ian Donges19982002 years
Peter Corish20022006 years
David Crombie20062010 years
Jock Laurie20102013 years
Duncan FraserApril 2013November 2013 years
Brent Finlay201320163 years
Fiona Simson2016presentcurrent

Chief executive officer

The following people have served as chief executive officer, or another appropriate title, of the National Farmers' Federation:
NameTerm startTerm endTerm of officeTitle of office
John Whitelaw19791985 yearsExecutive director
Andrew Robb 19851988 yearsExecutive director
Rick Farley19881995 yearsExecutive director
Wendy Craik19952000 yearsExecutive director
Anna Cronin20002005 yearsExecutive director/chief executive officer
Ben Fargher20052011 yearsChief executive officer
Matt Linnegar20112014 yearsChief executive officer
Simon Talbot20142016 yearsChief executive officer
Tony Mahar2016present yearsChief executive officer

Award of Honour

The NFF Award of Honour recognizes people who have made an important contribution to the NFF and the farming sector. These include:
NameYear awarded
Bill de Vos 1987
Jim Tehan 1988
David Partridge1990
Roy Smith1993
John Mackenzie1999
Alick Lascelles2000
Graham Blight2002
Hon. Ian McLachlan 2004
Geoffrey Crick2009
John Underwood2009
Alex Arbuthnot 2012

NFF Congress

The NFF has run its National Congress four times, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. The two first Congresses focused on modern farming, and adapting to the changing agriculture environment. In 2012, the Congress was around understanding, and capitalizing on, the food and fibre boom. The theme for the 2014 Congress was 'Producing Our Future'.
The next Congress will be held in 2016.

Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund

The Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund was created in 1985 to provide financial, legal and professional assistance to farmers. The fund was created out of Mudgenberri dispute in 1985, funded in part by farmers and in part by non-farming businesses. The AFFF is governed independently of the NFF, and is controlled by a board of trustees, three of which are independent trustees.
The current trustees are Hugh Nivison ; Peter Reith; Donald McGauchie ; Brent Finlay; Duncan Fraser; Fiona Simson; and Tony Mahar.