TCCI is the default industry representative

ABC pic of Jan Davis

There’s been some talk around town lately about the possibility of another group being set up outside the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) to represent the business community here.

Whilst the TCCI has had some serious internal issues to confront, in my view it is the default industry representative because of its links with peak national bodies and regional bodies, such as the chambers of commerce. That’s why we are members. I believe the TCCI deserves the opportunity to get its house in order, to restore its credibility.

I raise this because it is fundamental to advocacy groups such as the TFGA and the TCCI that we speak with the support of our membership. Governments and organisations involved in policy issues must have confidence that peak bodies they are dealing legitimately represent the interests of their members. It just happens to be an efficient way of doing business, on both sides.

Governments have neither the time nor the inclination to listen to small groups that profess to espouse the common interest but, in fact, represent an outlier position and have neither the membership nor the credentials to back up their claims. Far better, I say, for those ginger groups to try to effect change through their peak bodies.

As politicians might say, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association is a broad church. We represent a great diversity of farming enterprises and primary producers with a range of divergent opinions. Our challenge is to chart a course through issues and come down with a position that meets the expectations of most. That doesn’t mean everyone will agree with us on every thing – far from it. It does mean though that the positions we take need to be solidly based on logic and science (where appropriate), and clearly focused on the future – and we need to be prepared to explain the background to decisions and why we’ve landed on a particular place.

So, if you are a farmer seeking to bring about change, then I would urge you to use your membership of the TFGA be part of discussions within the organisation, rather than take pot shots from the outside. If you don’t, you may well be fighting a losing battle. The TFGA is held in high stead with policy makers and, if they are faced with demands for change or reform from ginger groups, we are often the first ones they will turn to for advice.

We have shown on issues such as the use of agricultural chemicals and forestry reform that we are fearless and that we are not afraid to hold governments accountable. Conversely, when there are opportunities to work constructively with government, we’re prepared to pitch in and do that too. I’m thinking here about issues like expanding irrigation, protecting our biosecurity status, technology including Wealth from Water and Sense-T, and promoting agriculture.

Nowhere is that old saying about ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ more true than in the work peak bodies like TFGA does.