Already dealing with a grower faction calling for it to be shut down, Australian industry body Riverina Citrus has this week lost its CEO, Dom Testoni, after he resigned suddenly on Tuesday.
Local reports suggest his departure was a result of the factional dispute, but speaking to Asiafruit Magazine this morning Riverina Citrus chairman Frank Battistel was unable to confirm why Mr Testoni had departed the organisation, which represents citrus growers in the Riverina region, which produces around 30 per cent of Australia’s citrus.
A petition signed by 30 Riverina citrus growers was reportedly submitted to New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson calling for the dissolution of Riverina Citrus.
Mr Battistel said the industry body is still unsure what had sparked the petition.
“As a committee we were unaware of any grievances out there, so it came as a bit of a shock,” he told Asiafruit Magazine. “As required by law, we need now to call a meeting to put that motion `to dissolve the body` to growers, as we have. That’s taking place next Tuesday.
“I think `the motivation` was a misunderstanding of an inaccurate representation of some things that had happened, and some outright lies,” he said. “I’m getting information that the motion being put is not what they actually signed, from people on that list. We’re just working through that to come up with some answers.”
Mr Battistel said he hopes to clear up the confusion at the meeting next week.
“We’d like as many members as possible to attend to get an accurate representation of the industry, and to make sure this doesn’t escalate.”
