The Federal Government’s decision to abolish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) in Parliament has been celebrated by WAFarmers. The Road Safety Remuneration Repeal Bill 2016 was passed by both Houses of Parliament yesterday, and will take effect from Friday 22 April. The decision to scrap the RSRT came off the back of significant pressure from truck drivers over the weekend in Canberra and ongoing advocacy from national and state farming organisations, key industry groups,

The annual celebration of all things honey will kick off in two weeks, with the Honey Festival being the first of many events throughout May to promote the importance of Australian honeybees and their products. Now in its fifth year and having been expanded to a national platform after commencing in Western Australia in 2012, the Honey Festival will take place at The House of Honey on Sunday 1 May, and is expected to attract

A recent Safety Awareness Session in Katanning presented by Farmsafe WA Alliance and WAFarmers Central Great Southern Zone left attendees informed about the latest health and safety risk assessment and legislative requirements. The practical 90 minute session aimed to help employers and organisations understand their duty of care, and how to take reasonable steps to prevent accidents in the workplace, through consultation with workers, supervision, induction and training, and risk assessment. A WorkSafe Inspector also

WAFarmers Chief Executive Officer Stephen Brown said the results from the latest WAFarmers Member Survey were overwhelming positive, with 98.46 per cent of respondents satisfied with how WAFarmers represented the interests of members. “We were most encouraged by the results of the survey, especially the fact that almost all respondents said they were satisfied with our performance,” he said. “Additionally, 93.85 per cent of respondents said they would recommend a WAFarmers Membership to others –

Farmers and members of the public are invited to a Fremantle Port Public Forum with the Treasurer Dr Mike Nahan and Member for the Agricultural Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Foods; Transport the Hon Jim Chown.  The Treasurer will present details of the lease, outline the immense benefits for the WA agricultural sector and agribusiness sector, and answer questions from the floor.  WAFarmers encourages members to attend the forum so they can hear

The appointment of the Hon Dean Nalder as Minister for Agriculture and Food, in addition to his duties as Minister for Transport, will be followed with interest by WAFarmers. WAFarmers President Tony York said the loss of dedicated Ministers for Agriculture and Transport was disappointing. “Agriculture has become a key focus of the state’s political agenda in recent years, and the appointment of one singular Minister for two portfolios, while potentially complex, offers an opportunity

Following the Federal Government’s decision to review the proposed backpacker tax, WAFarmers attended a round-table workshop with Federal Ministers and Senators this week to discuss the latest developments and the impact on the agricultural sector. Executive Officer Grady Powell represented WAFarmers in Sydney to consider alternatives to the Federal Government’s current proposal which would see backpackers taxed 32.5 per cent and removal of the tax-free threshold. The round-table workshop, which was hosted by Tourism Minister

The latest developments in the proposed sale of Fremantle Port have been applauded by WAFarmers, following the WA Nationals’ refusal to back the plan. With enabling legislation brought to Cabinet for the sale earlier this week, the issue has continued to gain increasing opposition, particularly surrounding the disclosure of access and pricing arrangements. WAFarmers President Tony York said the advocacy group was frustrated that there had been lack of transparency in the proposal. “One cannot

WAFarmers congratulates AgConnectWA committee member Wes Lefroy, who was announced as a runner up for the 2016 Zanda McDonald Award overnight at the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) Conference in Wellington, New Zealand. Mr Lefroy, who works throughout the Wheatbelt as a Technical Manager with Precision SoilTech in addition to his AgConnectWA responsibilities, was joint-runner up with agricultural and environmental consultant Erica van Reenen, to winner Dean Rabbidge, a dairy and sheep farmer from New Zealand.

The staff freeze currently gripping the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) has been condemned by WAFarmers President Tony York. Speaking from Canberra, Mr York said WAFarmers fully supported Agricultural Minister Ken Baston in his efforts to have a public sector-wide job freeze lifted to allow the department to fill critically important biosecurity positions. “Western Australia is a national leader in biosecurity, with our state being considered relatively disease-free,” Mr York said.  “Should