Committees & Taskforces
As part of the Strategic Plan 2010-13 the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has rejuvenated its Committee structures to more effectively drive policy development in line with its priorities.
Through its internal Committees and Taskforces the NFF provides its Members’ Council with high level detail and advice on all policy issues the NFF develops.
A Chairperson is elected annually for each committee by Members’ Council. The permanent Committees charged with major portfolio responsibility are as follows.
Committees
Economics Committee – has broad ranging policy scope and flexibility to capture all factors that enhance or impinge on farm businesses, including investment and taxation issues and drought policy. The Chair of the Economics Committee is John McKillop.
Trade Committee – is primarily focused on international trade and market access issues, World Trade Organisation negotiations and Free Trade Agreements. The Chair of the Trade Committee is NFF President, Jock Laurie.
2050 Committee – focuses on emerging issues and forward-looking opportunities for the farm sector, including long-term goals around, for example, agricultural research and development, infrastructure and technological opportunities and challenges. The Chair of the 2050 Committee is Andrew Broad.
Sustainability Committee – principally concerned with environmental considerations and maximising the effective engagement of the farm sector with Environmental Stewardship, the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and related issues. The Chair of the Sustainability Committee is Gerry Leach.
Water Committee – specifically focused on the ongoing importance of Australia’s water reform agenda, its impact on farmers and regional communities, and the need to ensure this most precious of resources is managed sensibly. The Chair of the Water Committee is Les Gordon.
Workplace Relations Committee – covers industrial and workplace relations, education and training, skills development, human resource management and safety issues. The Chair of the Workplace Relations Committee is Charles Armstrong.
Biosecurity and Animal Management Committee – oversight of quarantine and biosecurity issues to safeguard Australia from pests and diseases that could damage domestic farm production and Australia’s international reputation as a source of clean, reliable and safe food and fibre, as well as animal care and husbandry practises. The Chair of the Biosecurity and Animal Management Committee is Bill Bray.
Taskforces
As the need arises, the NFF appoints Taskforces to undertake investigation of policy options in relation to specific issues. The NFF's current active taskforces are:
Emissions Trading Taskforce – examines the application of greenhouse gas policies on Australian agriculture. The Chair of the Emissions Trading Taskforce is Gerry Leach.
Native Title Taskforce – ongoing monitoring and evaluation of native title and its implications for farm businesses. The Chair of the Native Title Taskforce is John Stewart AM.
Mining and Coal Seam Gas Taskforce – The NFF Board has recently established the Taskforce to consider Federal issues relating to the interface between agriculture, mining and coal seam gas along with assisting member organisations to work collaboratively on state based legislative matters. The Chair of the Mining and Coal Seam Gas Taskforce is NFF Vice-President, Duncan Fraser.
Drought Pilot Working Group - The NFF Board has recently developed the Working Group to engage with the Federal Government’s proposed changes to drought policy, particularly the drought reform measures pilot. This working group will provide an alternative mechanism for the development of drought policy. The Chair of the Drought Pilot Working Group is John McKillop.
NFF Committee and Taskforce Chairs, pictured at the NFF Members' Council meeting in November 2011.External Committees
Through its membership of various external committees, the NFF provides input to the development, implementation and review of the policies and issues that guide and govern Australian farm practice.
The NFF is represented on the following committees:
- Agrifood Awareness Australia Board;
- Agsafe Board;
- AgStewardship Australia Board;
- Animal Welfare Taskforces
- Australian Animal Welfare Communications Working Group;
- Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Advisory Group;
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Small Business Advisory Committee;
- Australian Institute of Agriculture and Science Technology Agricultural Education Special Interest Group;
- Australian Landcare Council;
- Australian Regional Agriculture and Mining Skills Project;
- ATO Commissioner’s Small Business Consultative Group;
- ATO Fuel Schemes Advisory Group;
- ATO Primary Production Industry Partnerships;
- Cairns Group Farm Leaders;
- Committee on Industrial Legislation;
- Department of Climate Change Emissions Trading System Industry Roundtable;
- Department of Climate Change Land Based Sector Consultative Group;
- Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts On-Farm Infrastructure Projects Committee;
- Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Stakeholder Consultative Committee for the Water Entitlement Purchase Program;
- Farmsafe Australia;
- Institute of Trade Skills Excellence;
- Institute of Trade Skills Excellence Rural Industry Reference Group;
- International Federation of Agricultural Producers Climate Change Working Group;
- International Federation of Agricultural Producers Water Working Group;
- Land and Water Australia, Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Research and Development Program Management Committee;
- Livestock and Production Animals Working Group;
- National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare;
- National Consultative Panel for Specific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme;
- National Employers’ Occupational Health and Safety Consultative Forum;
- National Industry Reference Group Trade Training Centres Program;
- National Industry Skills Committee;
- National Natural Resource Management Roundtable;
- National Quality Council;
- National Small Business Forum;
- National Transport Commission Industry Advisory Group;
- National Water Commission Stakeholder Reference Group;
- National Water Commission Cumulative Impacts of Mining Project Steering Committee;
- National Workplace Relations Consultative Council;
- Pastoral Award Negotiating Industry Committee;
- Primary Industries Education Foundation;
- Primary Industries Ministerial Committee Private Forestry Consultative Committee;
- Produce and Grocery Industry Code Administration Committee;
- Quarantine and Export Advisory Council;
- Regional Employers Alliance Project;
- RIRDC Farm Health and Safety Advisory Committee;
- RIRDC Global Competition Commission;
- Rural Education Forum Council;
- Rural Skills Australia;
- Rural Skills Australia Pathfinders Projects Steering Committee;
- Shipping Advisory Group;
- Small Business Coalition; and
- Stewardship Working Group.
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