News – May 2019 Archive

The Department of Transport (DoT) is currently undertaking a review of Part 13 – Towed Agricultural Implements, of the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 and is seeking submissions from other interested parties, into this review. WAFarmers Transport Committee has compiled some suggested answers that may assist growers in completing the survey. As transport is critical to our membership, it is important that members take their time to complete and submit the survey.  Survey closes Friday 16 November.  Download

The Western Dairy board selection panel met last week and interviewed who we considered to be two outstanding candidates for the advertised vacancies. Our view was that they each bring different strengths to the board and were able to demonstrate this most convincingly via the interview process. For us, the particular strengths that Andrew Jenkins offers is his astute understanding of the business of farming, his obvious interest in pasture production and the need to

Deloitte are undertaking a review of the Western Australian Heavy Vehicle Accreditation system. As part of WAFarmers due diligence we are looking for feedback from our members through this survey below which will allow us to provide adequate suggestions to Deloitte.   FIND THE SURVEY HERE Please provide feedback before Thursday 18 October.  Thank you and we appreciate your help! 

The State Government recently passed new legislation that increases the penalties for breaches of the OHS Act. This is the first step in the McGowan Government’s efforts to include Western Australia in the harmonised national laws. The Bills for the harmonisation are being drafted, this will be read into parliament in the government’s first term. Western Australian farmers should be aware of their ongoing responsibilities for themselves, employees, family and contractors while they are the

In response to the Four Corners episode aired on the ABC last night 8 October, WAFarmers has concerns over the misrepresentation of glyphosate. WAFarmers Grain Council President Duncan Young said the portrayal of glyphosate as a cancer causing agent has been blown out proportion by the Four Corners programme. “The programme lacked substantial scientific evidence and rather relied on pseudo-scientific claims and hearsay that glyphosate was responsible for causing farmers cancer and was the sole carcinogenic involved in the

WAFarmers would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Heart of WA’s 5th birthday last weekend at Crown Towers.  It was a fantastic evening celebrating the hard work of our farmers to provide us with the best food possible.  We would like to say a huge thank you to this year’s primary event partners and sponsors for their outstanding support of the 5th Heart of WA: Coles (Major Partner),

The Federal Government has today announced it will provide the $8.7 million to fund a major refurbishment necessary for Moora Residential College (MRC) to remain open. Funding to secure the future of MRC will now be provided under the Federal Government’s Community Development Grants program which aims to support infrastructure to promote stable, secure and viable local and regional economies. WAFarmers President Tony York said it was valiant of the Federal Government to step up

The threat of activist groups lodging a court injunction against the independent regulator after a ship is loaded has been reduced with the Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud signing the Export Control (Animals) Amendment (Approving Notices of Intention to Export) Order 2018. This will require any challenge to a shipment being made prior to the animals travelling to the port. WAFarmers President Tony York said that this amendment by Minister Littleproud will minimise some of

After proposed changes to the Harvest Mass Management Scheme (HMMS) were forecasted by Main Roads WA, the effectiveness and the future of the scheme was uncertain. Growers across Western Australia value the scheme as it allows grain to be loaded in the paddock with a 10 per cent tolerance over the statutory mass allowance, however growers are always encouraged to aim to be as close to their mass limits as possible. WAFarmers has worked closely

Regional Western Australia can breathe a sigh of relief after the full $13 million funding for the Community Resource Centres (CRC) was reinstated last week. WAFarmers congratulates LinkWest and other groups who rallied behind the CRCs across Western Australia. The CRC networks provide a crucial and trusted network for many who live outside of the metropolitan area and offers vital services including assistance with IT, parenting support, facilities for paying bills, attending courses and meeting