Opinion Articles

Buried Alive by the Pastoral Award

The Pastoral Award helpfully tells farmers that: “The average ordinary working hours for a farm and livestock hand will be fixed by agreement … but will not exceed an average of 38 hours per week over a 4-week period,” and then repeats the same rule in a different way: “The ordinary hours of work … will not exceed 152 hours in any consecutive period of 4 weeks.” The University Award contains its own classics, including

Trevor Whittington November 27, 2025

Opinion Articles

Can Captain Jarvis Navigate Without a Polling Compass?

I’ve stood on the bridge of the Fisheries portfolio before, watching the charts, reading the soundings, and warning the captain that reefs lay ahead. As a former Chief of Staff to a Fisheries Minister, I recognise the signs when a government vessel starts taking on water and the crew pretend it’s just spray over the bow. WA is again steering toward the same rocks: science shouting from the crow’s nest, lobby groups whispering on the

Trevor Whittington November 13, 2025

Media Releases

Firearms Act report ‘states the bleeding obvious’

Firearms Act report ‘states the bleeding obvious’ The peak body for Western Australian farmers has criticized a Parliamentary Committee report into the Firearms Act 2024 for not addressing the big issues. WAFarmers President Steve McGuire said the report’s findings confirm many of concerns the organization has with the legislation but fails to recommend significant improvements. “We know the Act was rushed through Parliament prior to the last election mostly for political reasons,” Mr. McGuire said. “There

Darren Brown October 16, 2025