The Nationals WA, in Government, will take immediate and decisive action to rebuild and strengthen WA’s agricultural sector after eight years of relentless attack from WA Labor.
Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA said the Party will deliver a strong, practical plan to drive prosperity, support primary producers, and ensure the long-term success of this vital industry.
“Farmers are the backbone of our economy and play a critical role in both local and global food security, yet Labor’s city-focused policies have systematically stripped them of vital capacity.”
“WA primary producers are being buried under bureaucratic chaos, including the debacle of the repealed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, and changes to the 1972 Act which have created uncertainty and restricted their ability to plan for the future.” Mr Love said.
“Secure property rights and fair, practical policies are essential to ensuring our farmers can continue to innovate, invest, and grow without unnecessary government interference.”
Nationals WA Agriculture Spokesperson and Candidate for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter said WA Labor has put ideology ahead of practical governance for the past eight years, and it’s farmers and rural communities who have paid the price.
“It’s time for a government that truly supports WA agriculture, one that puts farmers at the forefront of decision-making, not on the sidelines.”
“The Nationals WA will always back our primary producers, cutting red tape and letting farmers do what they do best: farm.”Mr Hunter said.
“The Nationals WA’s commitments to real, long-term support for agriculture include:
• Restoring the Department of Agriculture and Food as a standalone department.
• Recognising and protecting prime agricultural land from inappropriate development.
• Ensuring water security for farms, pastoral operations, and rural communities.
• Expanding the eID Tag Incentive Payment for sheep and goat producers.
• Returning livestock animal welfare compliance to the Department of Agriculture, ensuring a fair and independent system free from activist interference.
• Supporting industry-led agricultural education programs in WA schools, restoring the Agricultural Education Directorate, and strengthening WA’s five agricultural colleges.
• Committing to the complete eradication of Varroa mite if detected in WA, rather than passively ‘managing’ it while honey producers are decimated.”
Mr. Hunter said these policies build on the strong work The Nationals WA have already done and will continue to do for the industry, including:
• Fixing the mess left behind by Labor’s botched Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws to remove uncertainty for landowners.
• Rewriting Labor’s Firearms Act to ensure primary producers and others can continue to manage pests effectively.
• Continuing the fight to reverse Labor’s live sheep export ban, which is crippling WA’s sheep and wool industries.
“WA’s agricultural sector is far too important to be neglected or used as a political pawn.”
“The Nationals WA will always stand with our farmers, ensuring they have the support, certainty, and respect they need to thrive,” Mr. Hunter said.
