The WA Farmers Federation released its election priorities last week, focused on capitalising on the industry’s potential to double production by 2025.

Agriculture is WA’s second major export industry, with up to 80 per cent of its agricultural production exported, which represents about 10 per cent of the state’s economy.

WAFarmers senior vice president Lyn Slade said hard work was required to keep strengthening the industry’s economic value and stimulate its workforce.

“At the time of the 2013 State Election, WA had enjoyed a period of sustained economic growth, underpinned largely by the resources sector,” Slade said.

“However, as the emphasis on the resources sector continues to diminish across WA, the opportunity arises for other sectors to offset any possible economic decline, and agriculture has been identified as a key driver of this growth.”

WAFarmers’ six-pillar Policy Priority List includes:

• Collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Food WA to establish a long term plan for the minimum retention of funding and staffing levels.

• Increased access for the movement of agricultural goods and products by opening the RAV network to RAV 4 as a minimum.

• Complete the Regional Livestock Saleyard Strategy in the state’s south west.

• Appoint the Auditor General to review biosecurity processes in Western Australia and determine accountability and financing responsibilities.

• Commitment to a reduction in taxes and duties incurred when a farming business is handed to the next generation.

• Reform of fire mitigation protocols and structures to limit the number and severity of wild bush fires experienced in Western Australia

“Our members are major contributors to the growing value of the state’s farm production, which has risen from $5.4 billion at the farm gate to $8.6 billion in four years,” Slade said.

“WAFarmers has undertaken extensive consultation with our membership through our Zones and Commodities regarding the issues they considered most pertinent to agriculture this State Election and we have developed our Policy Platform around these discussions.

“Further, we have extended invitations to representatives from the major political parties to discuss our Policy Platform, and have recently completed a series of meetings with interested political parties that have responded to our invitation.”

Further details surrounding each of the priorities will be released in the coming weeks, as well as an election scorecard outlining the positions of the major political parties with regards to the WAFarmers Policy Platform.

“There are so many opportunities in agriculture, so we need a strong State Government to get on board, capitalise on these opportunities and safeguard the future of this ever-evolving sector,” Slade said.