August 2013

WAFarmers welcomes the issue of foreign investment entering the Federal election dialogue this week. As part of WAFarmers five policy priorities, WAFarmers is calling for a balanced foreign investment policy to be established following a full investigation into the current state of play through a foreign investment register. WAFarmers President Dale Park said it was encouraging to see both parties commit to establishing such a register. “Without knowing where we stand in terms of foreign

WAFarmers is disappointed the Labor party’s ‘Fair go for Farmers’ policy does not deliver on the real issues facing the agricultural sector. While the announcement of an agriculture policy from the Labor party is welcome, the plan lacks details, especially on key issues such as profitability and competitiveness, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “Throughout the election campaign, WAFarmers has been detailing its five policy priorities which indicate the issues of biggest concern to our members,” Mr

After a long wait for formal agriculture policies from the two major parties, WAFarmers is pleased to see the Coalition announce their plans for the future of the farming sector today. The policy includes many of the priorities set out in the WAFarmers Federal Election 2013 Policy Statement and will provide a strong boost to agriculture should the Coalition be elected, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “Earlier in the campaign, WAFarmers called for parties contesting

WAFarmers welcomes the commitment from shadow agriculture spokesman John Cobb of $2.2million in Native Title respondent funding, should the Coalition be elected on September 7. The funding would restore the former balance where respondents and claimants were equally supported by the Federal government, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “The system that has been in place for the past six years, where respondents had to fund their own defences to Native Title claims while the Federal

Leading Ladies is urging the wider community to support Lockridge Senior High School in its battle to retain a viable amount of land to run its highly beneficial agriculture program. The Lockridge Senior High School Farm has been operating since 1984 and the school is one of only two in metropolitan Perth offering agricultural courses. Earlier this year, the Barnett government announced plans to build a Disability Justice Centre on part of the land used

The next Federal government must keep the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme for off-road diesel used in agriculture in place to ensure farming businesses remain viable. In the third policy priority leading up to the Federal Election on September 7, WAFarmers calls on parties contesting the election to commit to retaining the scheme into the future. WAFarmers President Dale Park said the program positively contributed to cost management for farm enterprises across the country. “The Fuel

Networking, nibbles and nature’s nectars await attendees to an exciting event for all young people interested in the origins of gourmet food and produce. WAFarmers’ young farmers group, AgConnectWA, will host the AgTiki Tour next month – an enticing tour for the senses through the Swan Valley which will provide an opportunity to meet like-minded young people. A coach will take the group to several locations on Saturday, September 14, where attendees will indulge in

The next Federal government must secure economic conditions which allow Australian agriculture to be more financially competitive and maximise export income for industry. The call is the second component of WAFarmers’ five policy priorities for the upcoming Federal election. While recognising the Australian dollar is traded in a competitive market, WAFarmers President Dale Park said farmers’ profitability had been negatively impacted by inefficient taxation measures, the high costs of complying with over-regulation and most of

Coalition comments reinforcing their support for the live export trade and the improvement of animal welfare standards are reassuring to the industry and greatly welcome by WAFarmers. WAFarmers has called for the expansion of the live export trade and the refinement of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) as a matter of priority for the next Federal government. Assurances from Nationals Leader Warren Truss and Shadow Agriculture Minister John Cobb that the Coalition will

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) AgConnectWA Section has been awarded a $6000 Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grant to connect farmers with the consumers who buy their products. AgConnectWA, WAFarmers’ young farmers branch, will use the funding to create QR codes which will appear on supermarket shelves, initially alongside beef, lamb, dairy and bakery products. The codes will direct consumers to a mobile phone enabled website containing information