WAFarmers Livestock Council accepts recommendations from McCarthy Review

The WAFarmers Livestock Council is pleased with the recommendations announced by the Federal Government initiated review into the conditions for the export of sheep to the Middle East during Northern Hemisphere Summer. Livestock Council President David Slade said that the Council have carefully reviewed the report and have accepted the recommendations provided by Dr McCarthy. “It is important for the live sheep trade to continue, but to do so there are fundamental changes that were

WA Farmers May 23, 2018

WAFarmers responds to McCarthy Review findings

WAFarmers has welcomed the recommendations made from the Federal Government review into live sheep exports which will see major improvements to the industry. WAFarmers President Tony York said the changes to the monitoring, measurement and stocking rate guidelines will ensure meaningful changes to improve the welfare of the animals being shipped within the trade. “We welcome and encourage the reviews to the regulatory bodies and welcome the transparency this will bring so that the welfare

WA Farmers May 17, 2018

State Budget minimalist for agriculture

The State Government yesterday released the 2018-19 State Budget, which has left WAFarmers underwhelmed due to minimal new expenditure into agriculture and regional Western Australia. WAFarmers President Tony York said the organisation had hoped for more out of the Budget, though he acknowledged the difficult financial situation currently constraining the Western Australian Government’s finances. “We welcome the $45 million across four years to the building of the WA Grains Research and Development Capacity program, and the continued investment to support educational programs at Muresk Institute of Agriculture,” Mr York said.

WA Farmers May 11, 2018

Federal Budget: Biosecurity and trade wins, but telecommunications a key omission

The delivery of the 2018-19 Federal Budget has seen some significant wins for agriculture in biosecurity and trade, but some serious omissions in the telecommunications space. WAFarmers President Tony York said a commitment of $121.6 million towards improving biosecurity systems to better manage risks and maintain Australia’s status as a clean, green country was welcomed. “Australia has a clean, green image that is the envy of world, due to our stringent biosecurity measures and resultant

WA Farmers May 9, 2018

Live export: AVA review findings welcomed

Following the delivery of an Australian Veterinary Association scientific review in support of the State Government’s position on northern hemisphere summertime live sheep exports, WAFarmers has welcomed the additional information. WAFarmers President Tony York said the more data presented to the Federal review, the better. “We welcome and encourage the AVA information being sent to the Federal Government review, and look forward to seeing how the McCarthy review might incorporate these AVA recommendations,” Mr York

WA Farmers May 8, 2018

Live export penalties a bold move

WAFarmers President Tony York has deemed the Federal Government’s plans to impose fines and jail terms to company directors who fail to act to prevent live export animal cruelty to be an opportunity to further safeguard the future of the trade. “We support Minister Littleproud’s comments that company directors would be severely punished if they preside over acts of animal cruelty, as exporters must be held to account as much as other stakeholders,” Mr York

WA Farmers May 4, 2018

Live export: MP’s comments show disrespect for local producers

Comments from Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson MP about how a ban on live export would not affect Western Australian producers have been condemned by WAFarmers. Following the announcement of the Federal Opposition’s intentions to impose a phase out of live sheep exports, Mr Wilson said that a ban would not strongly affect Western Australian producers. WAFarmers President Tony York said Mr Wilson had based much of his economic analysis on national figures that were

WA Farmers May 4, 2018

Labor’s call for live export ban would decimate industry

WAFarmers has rejected calls from the Federal Opposition to impose a ban on live sheep exports, citing a need to stop the cruelty, not the trade. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon today announced his party’s intentions to phase out live exports, a move which has been condemned by the agricultural industry. “WAFarmers stands firm in supporting the Federal Government’s review into the live sheep export industry during northern hemisphere summer conditions,” WAFarmers President Tony

WA Farmers May 3, 2018

Welcome to our new Board Members!

WAFarmers has welcomed the appointment of three new members to the WAFarmers Board of Directors! Kevin Smout (KPMG) has joined as a Special Expertise Member, while Livestock Section representatives Max Watts (Wandering) and Guy Bowen (York) have joined as Elected Board Members. WAFarmers President Tony York said the new appointments would complement the expertise of the existing Board Members nicely. “All our new Board Members come to us with a wealth of experience and understanding

WA Farmers May 3, 2018

WA grains R&D to grow industry capacity

An announcement from the State Government committing $24 million to the WA grains industry has been warmly welcomed by WAFarmers. In partnership with the Federal Government and other funding sources, the investment will see $10 million per year provided to develop a long-term model for the sustainable delivery of grains research and development. A further $4 million in 2018-19 will provide a boost towards the continuation of critical R&D programs. WAFarmers Grains Section President Duncan

WA Farmers May 3, 2018