Shadow Agriculture Minister Colin DeGrussa has taken aim at the Labor Government’s announcement to re-use the Primary Industries Workers Regional Travel and Accommodation Support Scheme, implemented last year to make up for worker shortfalls. Mr de Grussa said the original scheme was built around the flawed premise of being able to convince local workers to…
Shadow Ports Minister Colin de Grussa has welcomed the announcement by the State Government of their request for the Fair Work Commission to intervene in the current industrial dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia WA and QUBE. Mr de Grussa said after 14 weeks of inaction, Labor had finally listened to the Opposition and…
The Opposition has blasted Labor’s failure to act to avoid ships carrying millions-of-dollars of essential agricultural and mining machinery as well as other goods being diverted to the east coast. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the Labor Government had been missing in action when it came to supporting the State’s grains industry in particular, who…
The Opposition has condemned the State Government for failing to plan or provide funding in the State Budget to secure workers for the agricultural sector ahead of a predicted bumper harvest. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said it was shocking for the Premier to deliver an eyewatering $5.6 billion surplus with no answers for the grain…
Shadow Agriculture and Food Minister Colin de Grussa said the Premier’s response to questions in Parliament today proved he is ignorant of the plight of West Australian farmers who are facing worker shortages. Mr de Grussa said the Premier showed a complete lack of understanding which was proof he had been poorly briefed, if at…
Shadow Agriculture and Food Minister Colin de Grussa said Western Australia’s agriculture industry has been let down by the Labor Government’s lack of action in finding a quarantine site for urgently needed ag workers. Mr de Grussa said the Government put quarantining skilled workers into the too-hard basket and have left it too late for…
The Opposition has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the new Agricultural Worker visa which will be in place by September 30 to help West Australian farmers with the upcoming bumper harvest. Opposition Leader and WA Nationals Leader Mia Davies said the establishment of the visa was a positive step forward to tackle the skilled…
Shadow Agriculture and Food Minister Colin de Grussa has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government of an investigation into the use of a site in the Northern Territory as a potential quarantine facility for agricultural workers. Mr de Grussa said the Federal Agriculture Minister’s decision to look at using Bladen Village to isolate international…
The Opposition has called on the Labor Government to stop ignoring the plight of farmers and start supporting our state’s second largest industry by fast-tracking agriculture workers into Western Australia. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said while the State Government made the right decision to accelerate the recruitment of nurses from overseas and interstate, solutions for…
By Shadow Minister for Agriculture & Food and Member for Agricultural Region Colin de Grussa. Western Australia’s agriculture and food sector is the lifeblood of regional and rural communities, and as we know, this industry is vital to our State’s economy. So, with skilled worker shortages continuing to plague our farms, it begs the question…