The Nationals WA have called on the Federal Government to establish a research and innovation hub in Western Australia to help farmers and regional communities become more drought prepared. Last week the Federal Government announced two Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs would be established in regional Australia, funded by $20.3 million from the Future…
The Nationals WA have called on the Premier to intervene and scrap the Department of Fire and Emergency Service’s (DFES) new code of conduct which gags volunteers from communicating with State and Federal Members of Parliament. The mandatory code of conduct was announced this week by the emergency services commissioner and would require all of…
The Nationals WA member for Agricultural Region Colin de Grussa has called on the Labor Government to prioritise the use of local regionally-based travel agencies when booking air travel across the State. Mr de Grussa said under the Labor Government’s common user contracting arrangements, State agencies were compelled to book their travel through a Queensland…
The Nationals WA have accused the State Government of introducing “carrot and stick” legislation to increase penalties for criminal trespass at the cost of farmers being subjected to severe scrutiny. Agriculture spokesperson Colin de Grussa said Animal Welfare and Trespass Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 had muddied the waters between two separate and distinct challenges for…
Member for North West Central Vince Catania is concerned the Labor Government doesn’t have the resources to stop the spread of a new pest that threatens the Gascoyne’s key agricultural industries. Mr Catania said sightings of the fall armyworm in the region was a major worry for the region’s fruit and vegetable growers, already struggling…
The Nationals WA energy spokesman Terry Redman says the State Government must fix a flaw in its COVID-19 small business relief package that is denying regional operators much-needed relief from power charges. Mr Redman said while a $2500 electricity tariff offset is available to small companies impacted by the coronavirus restrictions, many don’t qualify for…
The Nationals WA have raised concerns around the State Government’s ability to monitor and contain a re-emergence of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) after several detections in Perth in the past month. Agriculture spokesperson Colin de Grussa said Qfly was an incredibly serious biosecurity threat to Western Australia, due to their ability to attack a wide…
The Nationals WA welcome the State Government’s announcement the agriculture sector, primary producers and processors are considered essential industries in response to COVID-19 but say more clarity is needed for workers and businesses across the entire food and fibre supply chain. Spokesperson for Agriculture Colin de Grussa said The Nationals WA wrote to the Minister…
A year since The Nationals WA first asked the Premier to respond to a rise in criminal activists, the Labor Government has failed to introduce promised legislation to protect regional communities and farming families. Member for Roe Peter Rundle said criminal activism had “never been more visible” than last weekend when a protester disrupted the…
The Nationals WA are supporting calls from egg producers and consumers for an inquiry into the ongoing sustainability of the State’s egg industry. Agriculture spokesperson Colin de Grussa today received a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures, which he will table in Parliament next week. “This petition, coordinated by WA egg producers, demonstrates the weight…