❓ A parliamentary question addresses financial pressures on WA farmers due to low wheat prices, high input costs, and low rainfall. The Minister outlines government support through existing services, reducing red tape, and initiatives like 'Bridging the Yield Gap'.
AnsweredQoN 112Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FARMERS — FINANCIAL PRESSURE — GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
I am proud to be part of a government that gives our agriculture and food industries the focus that they need but did not get under the previous government. However, in recent days I have read with concern of the financial pressures facing some of the state’s farmers. Can the minister please outline the extent of the issue and the government’s response? Mr D.T. REDMAN
I am proud to be part of a government that gives our agriculture and food industries the focus that they need but did not get under the previous government. However, in recent days I have read with concern of the financial pressures facing some of the state’s farmers. Can the minister please outline the extent of the issue and the government’s response? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I appreciate the interest of the member for Darling Range, particularly as he represents an electorate that is very close to the city. His interest in our farming community has highlighted the focus this government has on the farming community in Western Australia and the importance it has to not only our economy but also the broader communities in regional Western Australia who rely very heavily on the economic performance of our farmers. It is important that our city cousins understand exactly where regional people lie, particularly at this time. In order to have a closer look at the problem, over the past two weeks I have spoken at length to hundreds of farmers. I have also taken time to speak with the major banks. Last week I had a talk with them about the budgetary challenges for the coming season. Last night I talked to about six agricultural consultants representing farming communities from the northern agricultural region right down to Esperance, including some of the high rainfall areas, about the position that their clients face going from a very tough season last year to now drafting up budgets going into the new season. They are in a very tough situation. For the most part, losses were made last year and, at best, they are at a break-even point, although in a lot of cases it is worse than that. It is important that we understand that and have some sympathy for the challenges that they face and the support they give to a significant industry in Western Australia. Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I appreciate the interest of the member for Darling Range, particularly as he represents an electorate that is very close to the city. His interest in our farming community has highlighted the focus this government has on the farming community in Western Australia and the importance it has to not only our economy but also the broader communities in regional Western Australia who rely very heavily on the economic performance of our farmers. It is important that our city cousins understand exactly where regional people lie, particularly at this time. In order to have a closer look at the problem, over the past two weeks I have spoken at length to hundreds of farmers. I have also taken time to speak with the major banks. Last week I had a talk with them about the budgetary challenges for the coming season. Last night I talked to about six agricultural consultants representing farming communities from the northern agricultural region right down to Esperance, including some of the high rainfall areas, about the position that their clients face going from a very tough season last year to now drafting up budgets going into the new season. They are in a very tough situation. For the most part, losses were made last year and, at best, they are at a break-even point, although in a lot of cases it is worse than that. It is important that we understand that and have some sympathy for the challenges that they face and the support they give to a significant industry in Western Australia. Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
I appreciate the interest of the member for Darling Range, particularly as he represents an electorate that is very close to the city. His interest in our farming community has highlighted the focus this government has on the farming community in Western Australia and the importance it has to not only our economy but also the broader communities in regional Western Australia who rely very heavily on the economic performance of our farmers. It is important that our city cousins understand exactly where regional people lie, particularly at this time. In order to have a closer look at the problem, over the past two weeks I have spoken at length to hundreds of farmers. I have also taken time to speak with the major banks. Last week I had a talk with them about the budgetary challenges for the coming season. Last night I talked to about six agricultural consultants representing farming communities from the northern agricultural region right down to Esperance, including some of the high rainfall areas, about the position that their clients face going from a very tough season last year to now drafting up budgets going into the new season. They are in a very tough situation. For the most part, losses were made last year and, at best, they are at a break-even point, although in a lot of cases it is worse than that. It is important that we understand that and have some sympathy for the challenges that they face and the support they give to a significant industry in Western Australia. Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I appreciate the interest of the member for Darling Range, particularly as he represents an electorate that is very close to the city. His interest in our farming community has highlighted the focus this government has on the farming community in Western Australia and the importance it has to not only our economy but also the broader communities in regional Western Australia who rely very heavily on the economic performance of our farmers. It is important that our city cousins understand exactly where regional people lie, particularly at this time. In order to have a closer look at the problem, over the past two weeks I have spoken at length to hundreds of farmers. I have also taken time to speak with the major banks. Last week I had a talk with them about the budgetary challenges for the coming season. Last night I talked to about six agricultural consultants representing farming communities from the northern agricultural region right down to Esperance, including some of the high rainfall areas, about the position that their clients face going from a very tough season last year to now drafting up budgets going into the new season. They are in a very tough situation. For the most part, losses were made last year and, at best, they are at a break-even point, although in a lot of cases it is worse than that. It is important that we understand that and have some sympathy for the challenges that they face and the support they give to a significant industry in Western Australia. Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
I appreciate the interest of the member for Darling Range, particularly as he represents an electorate that is very close to the city. His interest in our farming community has highlighted the focus this government has on the farming community in Western Australia and the importance it has to not only our economy but also the broader communities in regional Western Australia who rely very heavily on the economic performance of our farmers. It is important that our city cousins understand exactly where regional people lie, particularly at this time. In order to have a closer look at the problem, over the past two weeks I have spoken at length to hundreds of farmers. I have also taken time to speak with the major banks. Last week I had a talk with them about the budgetary challenges for the coming season. Last night I talked to about six agricultural consultants representing farming communities from the northern agricultural region right down to Esperance, including some of the high rainfall areas, about the position that their clients face going from a very tough season last year to now drafting up budgets going into the new season. They are in a very tough situation. For the most part, losses were made last year and, at best, they are at a break-even point, although in a lot of cases it is worse than that. It is important that we understand that and have some sympathy for the challenges that they face and the support they give to a significant industry in Western Australia. Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Whilst last season saw an 11 million-tonne harvest, which is an average harvest for the season, some areas missed out. Some areas were coming off the back of significant frosts in the previous season. Therefore, a few of the ducks are lining up from an economic perspective on some fronts. In addition, the yields were uneven, and on the top of that, and just as important, we have low wheat prices. It is $200 a tonne compared with $450 a tonne in 2008. That is a significant shift in the prices they are getting for their products. Fuel and fertiliser costs are certainly not easing; they are going up. The financial landscape has changed, and it is a lot harder to get credit. In fronting the banks in their current financial circumstances, things have tightened up financially. That is not unique to their environment; it is the whole business environment. However, it does contribute to a very difficult season going into the new year. On top of that, with some record low rainfalls, the level of soil moisture is particularly low, which makes it more difficult and creates a greater sense of anxiety about the new season. They face issues on two fronts. Obviously the economic front, as I have just described, but also with anxiety and stress in dealing with the challenges of making budgets work for the new season. As I said, this extends well beyond the farming community, it effects the whole community—the businesses and community groups that feed off the economic wealth of our farmers. There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
There are no silver bullets and governments cannot walk out and solve the problems that the agriculture and food industries face, because they are challenging and largely out of our control and sit in the space of the business environment in which they work. However, there are certainly things that we can do. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a range of services, information and advice that can help farmers work through those challenges. It is our job to try to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape that they face when they try to develop their businesses so as to make them resilient to the challenges that they face. I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
I also announced to the house not long ago an initiative called Bridging the Yield Gap, which targeted high-rainfall areas. We are also working on a resilience initiative, which I cannot talk about but, again, will largely help those people in high-rainfall areas — Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I will not announce the initiative ahead of time, but I do highlight that it is something that is in the pipeline that will assist the farming communities of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members should be aware that providing the tools to our farming community, such as the announcement that Western Australian farmers can grow genetically modified canola if it fits into their farming program, helps them to become profitable and helps the bottom line of their businesses. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is those sorts of decisions that this government is making to assist the farming community. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : On the back of that, to deal with the mental health challenges in the community, the Department of Agriculture and Food has funded and is continuing to fund Wheatbelt Men’s Health to assist families and business people to make decisions in a very tough environment and in the challenges that are faced from a mental health perspective. Likewise, focusing the agency on decisions that make a difference to their bottom line is our way of contributing to the challenges faced by families and business people in regional Western Australia in meeting the needs that they need to meet for the bottom line of their business. I want farmers to know that the government is standing behind them and walking with them in the challenges that they face, and I will certainly work very hard to help them make the good decisions that they need to make to get out of the predicament they are in.
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