Tony Maddox was charged by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage after concreting his gravel crossing. Credit: Olivia Ford

News Clippings

Countryman: Calls from peak farming bodies for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee transparency

The following article was published by The Countryman newspaper today Calls from peak farming bodies for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee transparency Georgia Campion WA’s peak farming bodies have called for the State Government to lift the lid on what they say is the secretive work of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee, which meets every two weeks to determine places of cultural significance. WAFarmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA’s call comes as Toodyay

Darren Brown February 10, 2026

Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

News Clippings

The Countryman: WAFarmers, PGA double down on Tony Maddox support as he prepares to head to Supreme Court

The following article appeared today on The Countryman newspaper website today. WAFarmers, PGA double down on Tony Maddox support as he prepares to head to Supreme Court Cally Dupe | Countryman WA’s two main agricultural lobby groups have doubled down on their support for Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox, while reassuring members that no levy or membership funds are being used to fight his case. WAFarmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia said

Darren Brown February 4, 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

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

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

News Clippings

ABC radio interview with Trevor Whittington regarding Gov’t buy-back of rail freight network

WAFarmers’ CEO Trevor Whittington was interviewed by ABC Mornings host Nadia Mitsopoulos this morning about the issues behind our campaign to hold the WA State Government to its promise to “buy back” WA’s rail freight network. Also, read Trevor’s excellent Opinion article on the issue here: Time for action: WA’s rail Buy-Back promise cannot wait Listen to the informative interview on the audio player or via the URL below: Click here if the player above doesn’t

Darren Brown January 13, 2026

York farmer and PGA president Tony Seabrook in the yards with some of the cross-bred lambs which would normally be bound for live export. Pictured at Tony's property near York. 24 JUNE 2018 Picture: Danella Bevis The West Australian

News Clippings

The Countryman/ABC: York farmer Tony Seabrook steps down after 11 years as Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president

WAFarmers offers its sincere gratitude to Tony Seabrook for his enormous contribution to Western Australia’s agriculture sector as he steps down after 11 years as President of the Pastoral and Grazier’s Association of WA (PGA). We wish Tony and his family all the very best for the next chapter in his life – which, from what he says in the interviews below, looks likely to be anything but a traditional “retirement” – in true Seabrook

Darren Brown December 2, 2025

News Clippings

Forrest weir challenge: Anthropologist’s sacred site evidence questioned in tribunal

At the WA State Administrative Tribunal, Andrew Forrest and his former wife Nicola are challenging the state government’s refusal of their plan to build a series of weirs along the Ashburton River on their Minderoo Station in the Pilbara. The proposal is opposed by the Thalanyji people and the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC), who say the project would harm the spiritual and cultural significance of the river. During cross-examination, counsel for the Forrests, Kenneth

Darren Brown November 12, 2025

News Clippings

The Countryman/ABC: York farmer Tony Seabrook steps down after 11 years as Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president

Forrest weir challenge: Anthropologist’s sacred site evidence questioned in tribunal

Recent Posts

Archives

Archives

WHAT WE DO

ABOUT