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Victoria's peak farming body has refused an attempt by more than 150 of its members to hold an extraordinary general meeting that could have led to the board being sacked.
Key points:
- The VFF board has rejected a request by 156 members to hold an extraordinary general meeting
- President Emma Germano says the request, which could have led to board dismissal, was "defective in regard to the Corporations Act"
- Rebel members pushing for the meeting have referred the VFF's response to ASIC
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) board met on Friday and rejected a request by members to hold an extraordinary general meeting.
The rebel members organising the meeting intended on a sole motion to dissolve the VFF board and spill all elected positions, including president Emma Germano's role.
"The current request for an EGM is defective in regard to the Corporations Act and the EGM cannot be validly held associated with this request," Ms Germano said in a statement.
Under the VFF's constitution, a minimum 100 members' signatures are needed to make the request for a meeting and once the board is notified, the extraordinary general meeting must be called within 21 days.
The Corporations Act 2001 says "the directors of a company must call and arrange to hold a general meeting on the request of members with at least 5 per cent of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting".
The VFF's most recent annual report for 2021-22 said it had 4,195 members.
The current request for an EGM has the signatories of 156 members, while 5 per cent of members is 210.
Rebel members report VFF to ASIC
The push to hold the meeting and remove the board is being led by former VFF grains group presidents Brett Hosking, Ash Fraser and Andrew Weidemann.
It comes after months of disquiet and anger among some grass roots members about the direction of the organisation.
Mr Weidemann said the disaffected members were seeking clarity on their legal standing.
"We don't know why we are being told our resolution is not valid," he said.
"We haven't seen that legal advice."
Mr Weidemann said they were seeking their own legal advice about their options and had spoken with the corporate regulator Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Constitution and membership changes flagged
Ms Germano has flagged the board intends on holding an extraordinary general meeting on November 20 "for the purposes of amending the VFF constitution".
She also said the board approved a "new membership structure with tiered categories".
"We will invite all members to provide feedback on the constitution and lodge other resolutions to the EGM," Ms Germano said.
It comes just one week before the organisation's annual conference in Melbourne on July 24-25.
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