❓ Hon Jim Chown questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the accuracy of claims about industry support for removing the broadacre exemption within the Agricultural Produce Commission Act 1988, specifically challenging the stated support from the WA Beef Council, Sheep Industry Leadership Council, and SEPWA.
AnsweredQoN 1025Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
COMMISSION ACT — BROADACRE EXEMPTION
1025. Hon JIM CHOWN to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the minister's
response to Hon Robin Scott's question without notice 980 in which she
stated, in relation to the exemption of broadacre within the Agricultural
Produce Commission Act 1988 —
During the APC's industry
consultation on this question in 2017, support for the removal of the exemption
was received from the WA Beef Council, the Sheep Industry Leadership Council
and the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association.
(1) Is it not a fact
that the WA Beef Council is fully funded by the department and that the Sheep
Industry Leadership Council is no longer operating?
(2) Considering I
spoke to the SEPWA president, Mr Sanderson, today, who stated that SEPWA does
not have a position on the removal of the broadacre exemption—in fact,
the question regarding APC being extended into broadacre has not come up as a matter
for discussion at SEPWA board level—is the minister prepared to
withdraw her comments about SEPWA's supposed support, as stated in
question without notice 980?
COMMISSION ACT — BROADACRE EXEMPTION
1025. Hon JIM CHOWN to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the minister's
response to Hon Robin Scott's question without notice 980 in which she
stated, in relation to the exemption of broadacre within the Agricultural
Produce Commission Act 1988 —
During the APC's industry
consultation on this question in 2017, support for the removal of the exemption
was received from the WA Beef Council, the Sheep Industry Leadership Council
and the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association.
(1) Is it not a fact
that the WA Beef Council is fully funded by the department and that the Sheep
Industry Leadership Council is no longer operating?
(2) Considering I
spoke to the SEPWA president, Mr Sanderson, today, who stated that SEPWA does
not have a position on the removal of the broadacre exemption—in fact,
the question regarding APC being extended into broadacre has not come up as a matter
for discussion at SEPWA board level—is the minister prepared to
withdraw her comments about SEPWA's supposed support, as stated in
question without notice 980?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question.
(1) As the member
would be aware, a number of primary industry bodies receive funding from the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, including the WA
Beef Council. Critically, members of such organisations are drawn from
industry. The Sheep Industry Leadership Council, which subsequently became the
Sheep Alliance of WA, ceased operations in June 2019. The APC has advised that
consultation with the Sheep Industry Leadership Council took place prior to
that date.
(2) My comments
in question without notice 980 remain accurate. At the time the APC consulted
on removing the broadacre exemption, SEPWA indicated that it was happy to
support the inclusion of broadacre farming in the APC act. I also take this
opportunity to once again highlight that WAFarmers, which is the largest
representative of broadacre farmers in Western Australia, strongly supports the
inclusion of broadacre farming in the APC act.
The member is basically going out
there beating the drum for the PGA.
Hon Jim Chown interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon
Ken Baston has the call.
question.
(1) As the member
would be aware, a number of primary industry bodies receive funding from the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, including the WA
Beef Council. Critically, members of such organisations are drawn from
industry. The Sheep Industry Leadership Council, which subsequently became the
Sheep Alliance of WA, ceased operations in June 2019. The APC has advised that
consultation with the Sheep Industry Leadership Council took place prior to
that date.
(2) My comments
in question without notice 980 remain accurate. At the time the APC consulted
on removing the broadacre exemption, SEPWA indicated that it was happy to
support the inclusion of broadacre farming in the APC act. I also take this
opportunity to once again highlight that WAFarmers, which is the largest
representative of broadacre farmers in Western Australia, strongly supports the
inclusion of broadacre farming in the APC act.
The member is basically going out
there beating the drum for the PGA.
Hon Jim Chown interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon
Ken Baston has the call.
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