IPA Tour Of South-West Western Australia To Discuss Impact Of Red Tape On Farming Communities

“Western Australia does the heavy lifting on behalf of the nation when it comes to agriculture and resources, yet is increasingly burdened with productivity killing red tape, which is set to be made worse with the commencement of cultural heritage laws,” said Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs.

This week, the IPA will visit Katanning, Bridgetown, Augusta, Busselton, and Bunbury to listen to farming communities most affected by red tape, and discuss forthcoming research which details how West Australian farmers are held back by state and federal regulation.

“Western Australia is a go ahead to get ahead state, but is being held back by burdensome red tape on its nation leading agricultural sector,” said Mr Wild.

Previous IPA analysis found that to build an irrigation pivot on privately held pastoral land in Western Australia requires not less than eight different permits and licences.

“Australia relies on our regions to put food on our tables and generate our nation’s wealth, which pays for government services like health, education and transport. Holding back our farmers not only hurts them, it hurts all of us,” Mr Wild said.

Western Australia is facing self-inflicted economic headwinds. IPA research shows it is the most affected by the nation’s worker shortage crisis, and red tape facing local farmers will only increase with the misguided Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 coming to effect on 1 July 2023.

“In WA, there were almost 53,000 job vacancies, almost double the number prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and inaction from Canberra is costing local businesses daily,” Mr Wild said.

“On top of this, the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act is set to further undermine West Australian farmers’ ability to do their job, and is just the latest in years of attacks on the state’s agricultural sector by the political class and inner-city elitists.”

Policies set in Perth and Canberra have real-world consequences for the communities of South-West Western Australia, who increasingly do not have a voice to prevent attacks on their businesses and their way of life.

“The IPA is committed to undertaking research on the local communities most impacted by the policies created by the political class and inner-city elites, such as the new Aboriginal cultural heritage laws, who never suffer the consequences or incur the costs,” said Mr Wild.