Rebuilding Agriculture

The Nationals WA in Government will deliver $6 million to secure land and develop a business plan for the South West Agribusiness Precinct, located in the Shire of Capel. The transformational project which will create thousands of jobs, attract major investment, and secure the future of WA’s food production.

Candidate for Collie-Preston, Cam Parsons, announced the election commitment in Boyanup today, and said the precinct would establish the South West as a powerhouse for agriculture, food production, and logistics, while delivering a modern, purpose-built home for the Boyanup Saleyards.

“This precinct will be a game-changer for the South West’s agricultural sector,” Mr Parsons said.

“It will provide world-class facilities for beef and sheep processing, dairy production, value-added food processing, logistics, cold storage, and agricultural research, delivering massive benefits to farmers, producers, and the entire supply chain.

“This $6 million commitment from Royalties for Regions will allow for the purchase of the site and to start the next stages, including the development of a comprehensive business plan to ensure this precinct meets the needs of local producers and maximises supply chain efficiency,” Mr Parsons said.

The project will also provide a long-overdue new home for the Boyanup Saleyards, which have operated since the 1950s in an outdated and unsuitable location.

“The Boyanup Saleyards are falling apart and sit just metres from people’s homes in the town centre,” Mr Parsons said.

“This new precinct will give our livestock producers certainty, while also attracting major agribusiness investment and driving innovation in the sector.”

A feasibility study conducted by the Shire of Capel found that once fully developed, the South West Agribusiness Precinct could create up to 1,500 direct new jobs, more than 4,000 indirect jobs, and deliver over $1 billion to WA’s economy each year.

The Shire has already identified a 500-hectare site for the precinct, with its location connecting agricultural producers to key transport infrastructure, including Bunbury Port, Busselton Airport, and Perth via the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

Nationals WA Leader Shane Love said the precinct was a nation-leading initiative that aligned with the Party’s vision for strong, thriving regional communities.

“This project is exactly what The Nationals WA stand for – backing regional communities, supporting farmers, and driving real economic growth,” Mr Love said.

“The South West Agribusiness Precinct will be one of the most important agribusiness hubs in Australia, delivering world-class processing, logistics, and research facilities, while keeping WA’s farmers at the forefront of the industry.”

The Nationals WA, in Government, will take immediate and decisive action to rebuild and strengthen WA’s agricultural sector after eight years of relentless attack from WA Labor.

Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA said the Party will deliver a strong, practical plan to drive prosperity, support primary producers, and ensure the long-term success of this vital industry.

“Farmers are the backbone of our economy and play a critical role in both local and global food security, yet Labor’s city-focused policies have systematically stripped them of vital capacity.”

“WA primary producers are being buried under bureaucratic chaos, including the debacle of the repealed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, and changes to the 1972 Act which have created uncertainty and restricted their ability to plan for the future.” Mr Love said.

“Secure property rights and fair, practical policies are essential to ensuring our farmers can continue to innovate, invest, and grow without unnecessary government interference.”

Nationals WA Agriculture Spokesperson and Candidate for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter said WA Labor has put ideology ahead of practical governance for the past eight years, and it’s farmers and rural communities who have paid the price.

“It’s time for a government that truly supports WA agriculture, one that puts farmers at the forefront of decision-making, not on the sidelines.”

“The Nationals WA will always back our primary producers, cutting red tape and letting farmers do what they do best: farm.”Mr Hunter said.

“The Nationals WA’s commitments to real, long-term support for agriculture include:

• Restoring the Department of Agriculture and Food as a standalone department.

• Recognising and protecting prime agricultural land from inappropriate development.

• Ensuring water security for farms, pastoral operations, and rural communities.

• Expanding the eID Tag Incentive Payment for sheep and goat producers.

• Returning livestock animal welfare compliance to the Department of Agriculture, ensuring a fair and independent system free from activist interference.

• Supporting industry-led agricultural education programs in WA schools, restoring the Agricultural Education Directorate, and strengthening WA’s five agricultural colleges.

• Committing to the complete eradication of Varroa mite if detected in WA, rather than passively ‘managing’ it while honey producers are decimated.”

Mr. Hunter said these policies build on the strong work The Nationals WA have already done and will continue to do for the industry, including:

• Fixing the mess left behind by Labor’s botched Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws to remove uncertainty for landowners.

• Rewriting Labor’s Firearms Act to ensure primary producers and others can continue to manage pests effectively.

• Continuing the fight to reverse Labor’s live sheep export ban, which is crippling WA’s sheep and wool industries.

“WA’s agricultural sector is far too important to be neglected or used as a political pawn.”

“The Nationals WA will always stand with our farmers, ensuring they have the support, certainty, and respect they need to thrive,” Mr. Hunter said.

The Nationals in Government will relocate the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
(DPIRD) headquarters to Northam, putting an end to years of delays and uncertainty under the Cook Labor
Government.

Leader Shane Love MLA said the Cook Labor Government’s failure to deliver the long-promised facility has left
WA’s agriculture and regional development sectors in limbo.

“Under Labor, Western Australian agriculture doesn’t have a home,” Mr Love said.

“WA Labor promised a world-class DPIRD headquarters at Murdoch University in 2022, with a $320 million
price tag, yet as we enter 2025, those plans have been abandoned.

“Adding insult to injury, $176 million in funding was stripped from this critical project in the recent Mid-Year
Budget review, and Labor has pushed the project out beyond 2028, leaving staff and the sector without a clear
plan or timeline.”

Currently, nearly 200 DPIRD staff are operating out of temporary facilities at the Claremont Showgrounds or
working from home, following the closure of the South Perth offices due to asbestos concerns. The
Government plans to spend an additional $9.3 million this year on alternative temporary work areas for staff.

“The Nationals in Government will restore the $176 million cut by WA Labor and use it to build a world-class
facility in Northam,” Mr Love said.

“This new headquarters will provide permanent workspaces for staff, modern laboratories, an incident and
emergency management centre, and on-site research and development facilities such as fields and
glasshouses.”

Nationals WA candidate for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter, said Northam was the ideal location for the
new headquarters.

“Northam is the heartland of WA’s agricultural sector, offering existing infrastructure, space to grow, and
proximity to the Muresk Institute for education and training,” Mr Hunter said.

“Relocating DPIRD to Northam would bring hundreds of stable jobs and significant investment into the
Wheatbelt, aligning perfectly with the Department’s purpose of serving WA’s agricultural and regional
communities.”

Mr Hunter emphasised the accessibility of Northam for staff and stakeholders.

“Less than an hour from the metro area, with regular public transport including the Avon Link train, Northam
offers the best of both worlds – a regional base for agriculture and research while remaining easily accessible
for staff who choose not to relocate.

“After years of Labor’s broken promises and neglect, The Nationals in Government will make agriculture and
regional development a top priority by delivering a world-class DPIRD headquarters in Northam.”