Opinion Articles

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries has a budget credibility problem

JACKIE Jarvis was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Food in December 2022. She picked up responsibility for Fisheries in March 2025, giving her three budgets and one election to get her head around the DPIRD budget papers. Now, long-suffering readers – along with the minister’s office and the diversity crew scattered across DPIRD’s multiple Perth HQs – will know exactly where this is going. Once again, I’ve gone back to the State budget to point

Trevor Whittington January 29, 2026

Opinion Articles

Heritage by litigation: How Ben Wyatt is rewriting history to excuse a failed law

“WAFarmers are reaping what they sow,” Ben Wyatt declared recently, reflecting on the looming Maddox case and claims by WAFarmers that the current laws are being selectively targeted by the department (Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of WA laws’ intent, The Australian, 20 January 2026). There is a curious habit among former ministers once they leave office: they rediscover principle. Mr Wyatt’s recent commentary on Aboriginal cultural heritage laws is a textbook example. Draped in the language

Trevor Whittington January 29, 2026

News Clippings

ABC Country Hour interview with Trevor Whittington re Sheep Industry roadmap

“Well, this is the roadmap that’s been on the road for a long time” That’s how WAFarmers’ CEO Trevor Whittington started his interview with ABC WA Country Hour host Belinda Varischetti today in response to her question about the clarity of the Federal Government’s WA roadmap out of the live sheep trade. The interview took place while Trevor was attending an industry workshop in Perth, where he said more talking was wasting valuable time: “It’s

Darren Brown January 28, 2026

General News

WAFarmers Zone Meetings & AGMs

WAFarmers Zone Meetings & AGMs February 2026 Notice to members Please see the schedule of Zone meetings and AGMs below. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and put forward motions to go to the WAFarmers AGM. Head office staff will be in attendance. We hope to see you at your local zone meeting. SCHEDULE Lower South West Zone (Meeting, AGM & Dinner) – Tuesday 3 February 2026, 6.30pm Tall Timbers Manjimup (RSVP

Darren Brown January 25, 2026

News Clippings

Farm Weekly: KC joins Maddox property rights appeal

The following article was published in the Farm Weekly today KING’S Counsel Mark Trowell has joined the fight to overturn charges laid on Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox for repairing a creek crossing without knowing he had to apply for the minister’s approval. Mr Maddox is hoping Mr Trowell’s experience will undo the precedent that could open the floodgates for hundreds of others to be charged for unknowingly breaching cultural heritage laws. “This is a case of bureaucracy

Darren Brown January 22, 2026

Opinion Articles

“Everything you said I could challenge”

On January 1 in the Farm Weekly, I committed the unpardonable sin of writing an opinion. Yes, I know — shocking behaviour. More specifically, I questioned whether Australia’s apprenticeship system, particularly for ag heavy diesel technicians, is actually delivering what it claims to deliver. Some readers may recall the piece How to Jump-Start the Next Generation of Ag Technicians, if I may say so it’s worth a read or reread. Shortly after publication, I received

Trevor Whittington January 22, 2026

News Clippings

ABC Country Hour interview with Steve McGuire re Aboriginal Heritage Regulations and application

The wonderful team at ABC WA Country Hour presented a solid story today around the WAFarmers’ allegation that multiple corporations have breached the same law that Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox was charged with for repairing a creek crossing on his property. During the interview with ABC presenter Nadia Mitsopoulos, WAFarmers’ President Steve McGuire explains that while the law and regulations are not perfect, the way the Department applied them to convict Mr Maddox is an

Darren Brown January 20, 2026

News Clippings

The Australian: Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of laws’ intent’

News summary: Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of laws’ intent’ Western Australia’s Aboriginal heritage laws have come under fire for what critics say is bureaucratic overreach that undermines their original intent. In an excellent article published today in The Australian newspaper, Paige Taylor explains that WAFarmers has launched a campaign highlighting how the legislation makes it a criminal offence to publish photographs of registered heritage sites without ministerial approval, even when those images appear on Google

Darren Brown January 20, 2026

WAFarmers AGM

WAFarmers 2026 AGM

Notice of The Western Australian Farmers Federation Annual General Meetings 2026 As required under its Constitution (rule 25.2.2), The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) hereby notifies all members; Section Councils and Zones that the 79th WAFarmers Annual General Meetings (AGMs) will be held on Friday 20 March 2026, at The Ingot Hotel, Perth. The meeting will commence with a light lunch from 12pm with a member dinner following the conclusion of the official proceedings.

Darren Brown January 15, 2026

January 2026

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