The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) believes calls from the Conservation Council of Western Australia to reduce the use of agricultural fertiliser are misplaced.
Following an announced by the Liberal Party that it will spend $16 million on Perth’s rivers if it wins the state election, the Conservation Council says the only way to really, seriously address the issue of pollution getting into the Swan River is to reduce the input of pollution from its source, which is agricultural fertiliser.
WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said fertiliser was an important but expensive farm input.
“Farmers endeavour to use fertilisers carefully as not to damage the environment and increase their already high farm input costs,” Mr Park said.
“Fertiliser is a crucial part of producing high quality crops and food to ensure the nation’s food security.
“The Liberal-National Government confirmed its move away from the previous Government’s Fertiliser Action Plan (FAP) in December, however after taking some three and a half years to develop a new model, there is still no detail on the agreement itself,” Mr Park said.
“WAFarmers position is that it will not sign any form of fertiliser agreement until we are satisfied that the Government’s investment and management of the process is sufficient to achieve its stated outcomes, when these are finally released.
“The required information, in regards to the FAP, appears to be some time away, December’s announcement was more related to the coming State election, than it is to achieving real change in fertiliser management,” Mr Park concluded.
