Full pastoral position statement
PDF – complete policy positions on pastoral tenure, regulation and resource access
Pastoral
Practical positions. Clear principles
The PGA Pastoral Committee exists to safeguard the viability of all pastoral businesses by advocating for secure tenure and practical regulatory outcomes that support sustainable land management across WA’s rangelands.
Our members manage some of Australia’s most significant environmental and economic assets, producing high-quality food and fibre while stewarding complex landscapes and deep cultural histories. The PGA holds that a strong, sustainable and profitable pastoral industry is essential for the economic health of regional WA, the social fabric of rural communities, and the responsible management of much of the state’s land.
PGA of W.A.
Pastoralists are not merely users of the land, they are its long-term managers. In most instances, they live on the land with their families and employees, playing a critical role in biosecurity, pest control, fire management, and environmental conservation.
Download the full documentation
Security of tenure
The PGA calls for a statutory right of renewal for compliant leaseholders, at the option of the leaseholder. Without long-term tenure security, diversification and land improvement is stifled, and the future of every pastoral station remains uncertain. Tenure security is the foundation on which everything else is built.
Practical regulation
Pastoral businesses already absorb significant market and seasonal volatility. They cannot also be expected to carry open-ended regulatory risk. The PGA expects all legislation to be practical, clear, and developed in genuine partnership with those who live and work on the land.
Recognition as land managers
Pastoralists contribute far beyond commercial production. They are active participants in biosecurity and environmental and cultural conservation. Government policy should support and resource landholders in this role, not obstruct them with impractical regulations that ignore the realities of managing remote and extensive country.
Fair resource access
The PGA asserts the right of pastoral lessees to fair and equitable access to the natural resources of their leases, including water. Opportunities such as irrigated agriculture and carbon farming must be accessible to all pastoral businesses.
Ashley Dowden
Vice President
Trevor Hodshon
Vice Chair of Pastoral Committee
Margi Weir
Policy Officer
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