Press Release

The Pastoralists and Graziers Association is calling on new Treasurer Colin Barnett to step in and resolve the anomalies in the valuation of pastoral rents and the Government’s decision to refuse to grant an exemption to those pastoralists whose livelihoods were dramatically affected by last years suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia.

“Despite the Premier hearing first hand from pastoralists about rents at the recent PGA Pastoral Conference in Broome on 4 May, he continues to stubbornly oppose any attempt by the pastoral industry to resolve the valuation system which has led to many pastoralists being crippled by draconian rental increases,” PGA President Rob Gillam said.

“Many West Australian pastoralists now pay some of the highest lease rates in the country, despite having their livelihood turned upside down by the Gillard Government’s decision to temporarily suspend cattle exports to their major export market – Indonesia.”

“Despite numerous pleas from the PGA and individual pastoralists, Treasury refuses to reverse its decision to implement the third and final installment of pastoral rental increases, and continues to ignore requests of exemptions for those pastoralists still recovering from last years suspension.”

“Most pastoral leases in WA are run by small, family businesses who operate on the slimmest of margins, in one of the most volatile commodity markets in the world.”

“Yet they continue to be treated by the State Government as a “privileged class” who have avoided paying their “fair share” for vast tracks of Crown land, much of which is unproductive.”

“The Barnett Government is quick to come to the support of the mining industry and rally against the Gillard Government’s Mining Resource Rent Tax and Carbon Tax, but continues to ignore the calls by the pastoral industry for a fair and just system of valuing rents.”

“It is time that the Liberal National Government realise that there is another industry in the regions besides mining and begin to listen to the families and communities that are being destroyed by their inaction.”

“Mr Barnett needs to urgently step in and address these unsustainable and inequitable pastoral lease rent increases and implement a fair and just system to determine rents.“