The Nationals WA have called for the Minister for Agriculture to focus on the real issues facing the industry, instead of pedalling her left-leaning agenda.
At the Dowerin Machinery Field Days this week the Minister for Agriculture announced the Department for Primary Industries and Regional Development would be conducting research at the Wongan Hills Research Station into regenerative agriculture.
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to food and farming systems that rejects pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
The Nationals WA Spokesperson for Agriculture Hon Colin de Grussa MLC slammed the decision, saying it was time for the Minister to move on from her obsession with unproven farming practices.
“The Minister read a book on regenerative agriculture and is now infatuated,” Mr de Grussa said.
“While the Minister is proposing major research projects into some kind of utopian world of agriculture, our farmers are facing huge challenges within the live export industry and are struggling to get funds to extend the State Barrier Fence.
“The Minister keeps telling farmers to approach the Federal Government for money, which ignores the fact that wild dogs are a State issue and her Government needs to deal with this issue.
Mr de Grussa questioned the Minister in Parliament yesterday, specifically asking how much the research would cost, how many jobs would be created and whether other locations had been considered.
Mr de Grussa said that the Minister failed to answer the questions, proving the lack of planning that had gone into the project, labelling it “another of the Minster’s thought bubbles.”
“The Minister needs to stop wasting taxpayer’s money on her left wing ideologically driven personal agenda.
“The agriculture industry in WA is full of exciting, passionate and innovative people and the Minister needs to start working with the industry so WA can continue to be a world leading food and fibre producer.”
