THE NSW Farmers Association Junee District Council has passed a motion of no confidence in Primary Industries Minister and Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson.
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At its final meeting for the year, the Junee District Council was critical of the planned amalgamation of the Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA), Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI) into the Local Land Services (LLS).
The Junee District Council includes farmers from Junee, Junee Reefs, Wantabadgery, Illabo and Marrar.
Council president Martin Honner said the motion of no confidence was passed because of concerns about the future of services provided by the DPI and the level of consultation ahead of the changes.
Mr Honner said the motion was taken to the association’s executive branch where it was roundly rejected.
The fear held by farmers in the local district is that experienced DPI, LHPA and CMA staff members will leave and services will be provided by junior oficers who lack local and practical experience about farms around the district.
“The real fear at the end of the day is we’ll be left with an organisation no better than a call centre,” Mr Honner said.
Mr Honner said another concern of district farmers was much of the research conducted by DPI staff would cease, depriving farmers of indepedent and tested knowledge.
“They’re stripping the department back so much that everyone will go to private enterprise,” he said.
He said the traditional role of the DPI had been to provide independent advice to farmers.
“If I’m working for Monsanto, I’m not going to give you bad advice about Monsanto (products).”
Mr Honner said the DPI weren’t swayed by commercial interests.
The amalgamation of the CMA, LHPA and DPI meant staff at the LLS would need to come to grips with issues as wide and varied as locust control, bio-security, water management and livestock health.
And despite raising the motion of no confidence in the minister, Mr Honner said farmers still had questions about the future of services provided to landholders.
Despite looming job cuts for the Department of Primary Industries, the primary industries minister Katrina Hodgkinson said the formation of the LLS would ensure there is a flexible and locally-responsive service delivery model.
"I am determined to stabilise our primary industries sector and deliever change for NSW farmers and landowners which will help them remain strong, productive and viable," Ms Hodgkinson said.
She said before the LLS begins operations in January 2014, farmers would continue to access services provided by the DPI, LHPAs and CMAs.
"As part of the proposed changes, a number of new positions have been created within Agriculture NSW and Local Land Services. All staff who have been affected by the restructure will be able to apply for the new roles," Ms Hodgkinson said.
