Ian Sauer reflects on term as TasFarmers president

Ian Sauer said he had mixed feelings about leaving TasFarmers.

The former president of TasFarmers has been forced to leave the organisation because the constitution of the state’s peak agricultural body stipulates that board members must step down after nine years.

Mr Sauer said he was both sad and pleased about leaving the organisation.

“Agriculture is the pillar of Tasmania’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing, so to move away from the decision-making process is a little sad,” he said.

“But the thing that makes me really happy is that I think the TasFarmers board and I have made significant changes to the organisation over the last five years.”

Mr Sauer said that generational change had occurred within TasFarmers.

“We had to have a skills-based board, but we had to have people who were deeply embedded in the agricultural sector.

“We needed to have some geographical representation, and we needed to have some gender diversity.

“And the other thing we needed to do was lower the average age of the board of TasFarmers so it more represents the farmers that we represent.

“I think we landed on that pretty well.”

During his nine years on the board, Mr Sauer said the most disappointing moment for him was when the federal Labour government imposed firearm caps in the wake of the Bondi shootings.

“It was done without any consultation and without science.

“It was a philosophical driver.

“We need to make sure that any argument we get into is based on science and facts.

“We might feel really strongly about something, but unless it can be backed up, it’s not worth doing.”

Mr Sauer said he planned to spend more time on his farm.

“I’ll find things to do.

“I get bored pretty quickly.”