If AWB shareholder growers want to see the company prosper, they should be voting to support constitutional change, says ANDREW WEIDEMANN
IT'S time for growers to get off the fence.
AWB shareholder growers had a monumental decision to make last week.
Yet only 27 per cent of A-class shareholders with the power to vote, bothered to have their say.
This is not the time for leaving it up to someone else to make the decision for you.
It is not the time to make excuses to get someone else to do the hard yards.
It is time for this company to move into the new age of marketing.
The Federal Government's changes to the wheat marketing arrangements will mean a number of new marketers will be entering the market place and a skills-based, future-focused board is what this company needs.
Without voting for change, growers run the risk of making AWB a company of second choice for buying grain, as they will not be able to post a competitive price with one hand behind their back.
Growers can no longer expect that having control of a company through directors will give them the best service and price.
Do you want your grower company to have a competitive advantage?
Do you want your grower company to be moving forward and getting the best competitive price for you?
Then get your buttocks off the fence, stand up and support change.
What's in it for growers? How about good corporate governance, a united board, a supportive management team?
How about the best price available for your grain and the best investment return for you as shareholders?
This isn't an ad for AWB - this is a call to shareholder growers to look out for their own interests.
The A-class vote is about more than just changing the constitution.
It is about continuing the evolution of our grains industry.
AWB is the only company with a dual class share structure in Australia.
Forcing AWB to continue under this antiquated structure will be withholding all the tools that its competitors have access to.
If you are passionate about AWB and want to see it prosper in the future you should be voting to support the constitutional change.
Even if you are not passionate about AWB, you know that stronger companies mean better prices and services and you would be well served by voting for constitutional change.
The fact is that 74.7 per cent of those who bothered to vote last week were in favour of the changes to put AWB on the path to a positive future for growers.
But with 75 per cent required, the motion was nearly lost, by a mere 0.3 per cent.
That would have been a disaster for the company and its grower shareholders.
The VFF managed to avert this disaster, by putting a procedural motion that the chairman call for an adjournment.
But again I remind growers, "you cannot rely on others to do your bidding for you".
AWB's A-class shareholder growers have until Monday to lodge their proxy or postal vote.
Growers, wake up and take notice as you only have a few days to make sure you have a competitive AWB.
Take ownership of your company. Participate. Vote.
Andrew Weidemann is vice president of the Victorian Farmers Federation grains group
