Industry heavyweights, including RMAC’s chair Don Mackay and Cattle Council of Australia’s president Howard Smith, this year joined MLA boss Richard Norton in expressing an appetite for mergers of some form.
They argued for “grown up conversations” exploring the risks and benefits of consolidating at both the advocacy level and in research, development and marketing.
Mr Mackay said there was clearly opportunity for activities being undertaken at a representative level to be run from the one place.
Their views reflect those of many farming leaders who want more accountability, a more commercial approach to funding research and far greater collaboration.
But the idea has also had its fierce opposition.
Some RDC bosses and producer groups have argued the different priorities, and at times competing agendas, meant combined RDCs could never work.
AMPC’s Peter Rizzo said the perception that efforts were being duplicated was misplaced.
The perception that efforts were being duplicated was misplaced, says AMPC’s Peter Rizzo.
Mechanisms were in place behind spends that prevented duplication, he said.
“To get access to matching funding from government we have to go through compliance involving ourselves and MLA to ensure there is no duplication,” he explained.
Also on the cards for a restructure is peak wool body Australian Wool Innovation, which, after an extensive review of performance by independent consultants Ernst and Young, has been forced to consider implementing recommendations pertaining to director positions.
Ordered by Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud, recommendations include maximum periods of board membership and enhancement of the definition of an independent director on the board charter.
These recommendations, according to AWI, have the ability to change the DNA of the company, therefore must be put to shareholders.