News Clippings

Farm Weekly: Court case to defend rights of everyone

When Tony Maddox walks into the Supreme Court tomorrow, Friday, February 20, supporters say he will be carrying more than his own defence. He will be testing how Aboriginal heritage law applies to freehold farmland across WA. The Toodyay farmer has pursued a judge-only appeal against his conviction for breaching WA’s unamended Aboriginal Heritage Act (ACHA) 1972, after undertaking works on a creek crossing at his property in 2022. Found guilty in the Magistrates Court

Darren Brown February 19, 2026

Media Releases

Land Titles must show Aboriginal Heritage

WA’s peak agricultural bodies are demanding that the government make immediate changes to ensure existing and new Aboriginal Heritage sites are shown on property Titles. The call comes ahead of a Supreme Court appeal by Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox who was charged for repairing a creek crossing on his property against the Aboriginal Heritage Act, despite not being told a “Site” had been declared on his land. WAFarmers President Steve McGuire said the Department of

Darren Brown February 13, 2026

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

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

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

WAFarmers AGM

WAFarmers 2026 AGM

Notice of The Western Australian Farmers Federation Annual General Meetings 2026 As required under its Constitution (rule 25.2.2), The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) hereby notifies all members; Section Councils and Zones that the 79th WAFarmers Annual General Meetings (AGMs) will be held on Friday 20 March 2026, at The Ingot Hotel, Perth. The meeting will commence with a light lunch from 12pm with a member dinner following the conclusion of the official proceedings.

Darren Brown January 15, 2026

WAFarmers

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