Advocates' Loss is Tragic 

Last week two of the vegetable industry’s leading and most successful advocates resigned. I think there would be few who would deny that as its Chairman and CEO of AUSVEG, Mike Badcock and John Roach made the organisation the respected and widely recognised industry organisation that it is.

The passion and commitment by which both pursued their vision for the vegetable industry was unquestionable.

Why then did the two choose to resign?

One of the major initiatives being progressed by the pair was a push to extend the role of AUSVEG as a national representative organisation for the vegetable and potato industries by moving away from the existing structure of being a Federation, whereby AUSVEG is controlled by just six state member organisations to a structure whereby other state and regional organisations, as well as growers themselves, could become members.

Arguably, such a change would work to weaken the position of the state bodies, whose appointees currently comprise the Board of AUSVEG. Many within the Industry are stating that the decision by Roach and Badcock to resign reflected the level of resistance they faced by those supportive of maintaining the status quo (one would hope not at the expense of the interests of the industry).

The real test for the AUSVEG Board therefore, will now be whether they still actively encourage their own members to debate and consider the proposed changes to the constitution of AUSVEG and the proposed changes for broader and more inclusive membership of the organisation.

John Roach believed that many within the vegetable industry wanted broader grower membership of the peak industry organisation. He has also been an advocate for greater industry unity as a means of delivering benefits to all sectors of the industry.

Vegetable growers need to question the AUSVEG Board as to whether they will get the opportunity to debate the future of AUSVEG, or whether the Board is now seeking to scrap the plans for a more inclusive national peak industry organisation and in doing so, bury the legacy and vision of departed chairman Mike Badcock and CEO John Roach.

Personally, I believe the departure of both is a tragic loss to AUSVEG and the fresh produce industry.

Whether you believed in everything John and Mike stood for or not, they put in the tremendous hours and effort to promote their cause, and put up their hand to argue for the need and benefits of greater unity within the industry.

It appears that Roach and Badcock have paid a high price for their views, in an industry known for its bitter infighting and lack of unity.