The State Government has increased its investment in agriculture and food to $164million in the 2009-10 State Budget, compared to last year’s budget of $158million and the estimated actual expenditure of $136million.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said despite the tough economic climate, the Liberal-National Government recognised the integral contribution that agriculture and food made to the economy of Western Australia and had increased funding by four per cent on the 2008-09 Budget.

“This increase is significantly due to a welcome injection of funding for natural resource management (NRM) for this financial year.  Future NRM funding will depend on successful outcomes from key State NRM programs supported with this money,” Mr Redman said.

“The department has met its three per cent efficiency dividend requirement for 2008-09 and we will continue to rigorously analyse all departmental activities to ensure it meets future dividend requirements.

“I have always said that we will continue to look at the way in which programs in the department are funded to make sure we assist the sector in the most efficient and effective way possible.

“Equally, this budget indicates that industry will be asked to play a greater role in funding biosecurity that benefits their businesses.  $36million has been allocated for biosecurity next year.

“The State will maintain a significant research and development program in line with previous years and application of the three per cent dividend policy.

“It is estimated there will be an additional $55million from the Federal Government and $30million from external research corporations and industry groups for the department’s budget.

“The budget recognises the department’s role as an economic development agency and the Government acknowledges the many WA jobs and communities supported by the agriculture and food industries.

Major initiatives for 2009-10 address the five key strategies laid out by the Minister for the future of agriculture and food in this State. These include:

Improve the long term profitability of the sectors

·     $2.3million to continue development of the Carnarvon Food Basin and Gascoyne and Goldfields pastoral industry, including continued assessment of new technology for the production of fruit and vegetable crops and inspection of pastoral leases

·     $1million to continue the development of new crops for effective expansion of the Ord Irrigation Area

·    $800,000 to support change in the sheep industry by producing ‘easy care sheep’ and breed alternatives that require less labour and perform well in variable environments

·     $3million to improve and develop new technologies for pasture, crop and forage productivity for beef and dairy production

·     $2.5million co-investment with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to breed better barley varieties for neutral to acid soil types

·     $1.5million co-investment with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to breed better lupin varieties for WA

·     $900,000 to continue developing standards for animal industry production to meet community and regulatory environmental standards

·     $6million for projects aimed at developing the State’s South-West horticultural industries, including temperate fruit, wine, table grapes and vegetable industries.

Develop effective natural resource management policies to manage land assets, climate variability and biosecurity

·     $30million for a State Natural Resource Management program to ensure a sustainable resource base for the future

·     $1.1million over four years to develop land and water packages in the Pastoral rangelands, particularly in the north to increase the gross value of agricultural production from the region

·     $36million to biosecurity including $8million for eradicating and controlling invasive species such as starlings, weeds, rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, goats, camels, wild dogs and locusts. A further $8million will be spent on animal biosecurity including animal welfare and product integrity.  $5million will be invested in border biosecurity and emergency responses including quarantine services and $3.5million in plant pest and disease management, surveillance, diagnostics and response.

Build industry capacity to adapt and grow

·     An investment of $1million per annum for the ‘Regional Agricultural Aboriginal Development Service’

·     $5million to provide opportunities for diversified and sustainable production in the pastoral rangelands.

Improve market access for WA product

·     $1million for the continued development of the Western Australian food industry.

Promote a positive profile of WA food and agriculture sectors

·     $3million will be directed towards a range of initiatives aimed at creating a positive and enduring profile of agriculture and food.    

Funding of $4million over two years has been allocated to maintenance of the DAFWA headquarters as the relocation of the headquarters to Murdoch has been pushed back by two years in line with the priorities set by the Government’s Asset Investment Program.

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/