A NEW approval policy for members recruited to NSW Farmers has caught former chief executive Peter Comensoli in an awkward position whereby the organisation's board will review his membership application next week.
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Mr Comensoli, the chief executive from 1994 to 2000, was also asked to meet the board to talk through his recent concerns about the association's operations which prompted him to resign last year.
Although reluctant to comment about his recent re-application and subsequent correspondence with association leadership, Mr Comensoli, a Central Coast orchardist, said the issue had stirred up discussion and become a "storm in a tea cup".
"I wonder why there's any storm at all," he said, but conceded he was reluctant to meet with the board.
In hindsight, he said he should not have resigned and he wanted to continue an active involvement with the Central Coast horticulture branch.
Association president Fiona Simson said new corporate governance rules required board approve all membership applicants in the wake of recent application inconsistencies and attempts by animal welfare extremists to infiltrate farmer organisation ranks.
"I can't imagine Peter's application would be challenged - we've not rejected any new members at this point in time (since the new protocols were introduced last year)," she said.
Central Coast horticulture chairman Tim Kemp said his branch fully supported the board, but was concerned about scrutiny of Mr Comensoli and therefore sent a letter supporting him to Mrs Simson.