WAFarmers

General Section Council

23rd March 2015

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS FEDERATION (INC) GENERAL SECTION COUNCIL MEETING

Monday 23d March 2015

Venue: Directions Employment Training (Conference Centre) -off Great Eastern Hwy – opposite Midland Gate undercover parking, turn left at Beaurepaires Tyres, then five buildings

on right. Parking at rear.

Item No:

Agenda Item Time Discussion Leader

Coffee/Refreshments starting at 9.45 9.45

1 Opening & Welcome 10.00am 10.00 Tony

2 Apologies 10.05 Tony

3 Confirmation of Minutes (28th October, 2014) 10.10 Tony

4 Business Arising/Action Sheet 2014/2015 10.15 Tony/Chris

5. President’s Report – Attached 10.45 Tony

6. Chief Executive Officer’s update

Ø WAFarmers update Ø Policy re-structure Ø Commodity Staffing Structure

update

11.00 Stephen Brown

7. Election of General Section and Executive

11.15 Tony/Stephen

8. Commodity Reports (5 mins each)

(Can be either verbal or written)

11.30

Meat TBA

Dairy Phil Depiazzi

Wool TBA

Grains TBA

Bees Stephen Fewster

AgConnect Kallum Blake

Lunch 12.00– 12.45p.m 12.00 p.m

9. Zone Motions

Conference Resolutions

12.45 p.m Tony York

10. Portfolio Reports (Please note all Portfolio Reports not to exceed 5 mins and can be verbal or written. Please include any items for decision or discussion relevant to your portfolio)

1.45 p.m

Dale

a. Transport Report Bill Cowan

b. Economics & Farm Business Report

Tony York/Chris

c. Drought Reform

Chris Wyhoon

d. Occupational Safety & Health Report

Chris Wyhoon

e. Trade, Biotechnology & Related Issues Report

Tony York

f. Agricultural Protection Report TBA

g. Industrial Report

Philip Brunner

h. Land Management & Climate Change Report

TBA

i. Rural Communities Mary Nenke

j. AgConnect WA Report (Verbal)

Kallum Blake

Afternoon Tea 3.00pm to 3.20pm 3.00

11. Policy Document development

Land clearing policy discussion (input required)

3.20

12. General Business

- Annual Conference 18th/19th February 2016

3.45 Tony York/Megan

13. Next meeting date – 23rd June 2015 4.15 Tony york

*Please note: due to operating procedures, the listed format and times may alter through the meeting*

Item 3: Previous Minutes (Business arising)

(To be taken as read)

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc) Minutes of General Section Council Meeting

Held in the WAFarmers Board Room, Burswood Tuesday 28th October, 2014

ATTENDEES GENERAL SECTION EXECUTIVE Dale Park President Tony York Senior Vice President Marg Agnew Vice President Bill Cowan Transport Portfolio (also Merredin Zone President) Mary Nenke Farming Communities Portfolio Max Watts ZONE REPRESENTATIVES Lyn Slade President, Albany Zone Maitland Davey President, Mortlock Zone Ken Clark President, Avon Zone John Hassell President, Upper Great Southern Zone Bob Iffla President, Corrigin / Lake Grace Zone Frank House President, Blackwood Zone Mike Norton Delegate, Vasse Zone Frank House President, Blackwood Zone Ben Beckingham President, North Eastern Zone Ken Pech, Delegate, Stirling Zone COMMODITY COUNCILS Jeff Murray Meat Council President Tony Gooch Wool Council President STAFF Stephen Brown Chief Executive Officer Chris Wyhoon Executive Officer

APOLOGIES David Leake Agricultural Protection Portfolio Ed Rogister Wool Section President Kim Simpson Grains Council President (also Miling Zone President) Glenn Mitchell President, Esperance/ Ravensthorpe Zone Ian McDougall President, Central Great Southern Zone Tony Pratico President, Lower South West Len Beckingham President, North Eastern Zone Scott Crosby President, Stirling Zone Phil Depiazzi President, Dairy Council Simon Brown President, Vasse Zone Kallum Blake President, AGConnect Alastair Falconer Management Committee, North Midland Zone Murray Kowald Management Committee, North Midland Zone 9.00am OPENING AND WELCOME President Dale Park welcomed Council and thanked members for their attendance. Mr Park then invited each attendee to give a brief update of the season in their respective areas. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES – GENERAL SECTION COUNCIL 17 JUNE 2014 MOTION GSC3/14-01 Moved Ken Clark, seconded Lyn Slade THAT THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL SECTION COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17 JUNE 2014 BE ACCEPTED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD. CARRIED BUSINESS ARISING

1. Jeff Murray highlighted the threat of areas that been cleared, then become classed as environmentally sensitive, followed by criminal charges.

2. Ken Pech queried the progress around Kojonup Shire Yards issue

All of the actions from the previous meeting were briefly discussed, recognising that there has been a large staff turnover in recent times, resulting in staff resources being under severe pressure, and hence, less executed actions than desired.

ACTION: Dale to follow up unexecuted General Policy actions .

Marg Agnew, Mary Nenke, Stephen Brown, Tony York arrived at 9.26 a.m

AGENDA ITEM 5 - PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Inc Board Report)

• The ‘Heart of WA’ dinner has so far, over 250 RSVP’s. This will be an outstanding showcase for WA Agriculture and WAFarmers

• Issues with Brownes Milk using ‘WA farmer’s brand’ (as opposed to WAFarmers) – infringing on copyright. Legal negotiations currently taking place.

• A lot of work has been done on ‘Tier 3’rail. With the announcement that Professor Blayney recommends that the lease agreement between the State Government and Brookfield Rail be made available to the public, there would be a lot of potential traction to be made by industry in regards to getting Tier 3 back up and running.

Following substantial discussion on the progress of WAFarmers Milk, and the WA Dairy Collective Bargaining Groups’ negotiation with Browne’s, the following motion was passed:

MOTION GSC3/14-02 Moved: Mary Nenke Seconded: John Hassell CARRIED

‘WAFARMERS TO MEET WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING GROUP TO WORK OUT A DEAL ADVANTAGEOUS TO BOTH PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO MILK PRICES

ACTION: Dale to contact Joe Candeloro to clarify WAFarmers position on milk branding

AGENDA ITEM 6 - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

- Sent a letter out to members recently to ask for support in the form of grain donations, which will go towards paying a membership officer

- The budget is skinny but much better than this time last year, however in terms of future cuts and initiatives, ‘everything is on the table’.

- Board is currently assessing the strategies behind putting the ‘Re-charge/Re-connect’ strategic re-positioning into action.

- Conference has shifted to February, with ½ day as an AGM and the following (full) day being full of industry speakers

- WAFarmers will be conducting more finance forum and like industry engagements.

- Ongoing commitment for CEO and/or staff member to visit each and every zone over the next twelve months.

AGENDA ITEM 7 – WAFARMERS PROPOSED RESTRUCTURE

Discussion around variety of models used in recent times to help develop Zone participation. Examples used were a ‘branch experiment’ and using the Farm Finance Forums to attract existing and new members.

AGENDA ITEM 8 – POLICY COMMITTEE

Lyn outlined her proposal to form a policy committee within WAFarmers to develop a a range of policy documents that encapsulates all policy developed by WAFarmers, both historically and future.

MOTION GSC3/14-03 : Moved: Lyn Slade Seconded: Bob Iffla

‘THAT WAFARMERS SET UP A POLICY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A CENTRAL POLICY DOCUMENT THAT ENCAPSULATES ALL POLICY DEVELOPED BY WAFARMERS, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND FUTURE.

AGENDA ITEM 9: COMMODITY UPDATE Meat:

- Muchea issue, where lots of errors are harming producers. - The New Zealand-China lamb deal - Animal Welfare standards and guidelines progressing - Former WAFarmers Board member has been appointed to the Board of

WAMMCO - Meat from the eastern states is at times, cheaper than selling meat from

WA - Shipping issue with boats slowing down.

Wool: - AWI Woolpoll is up again for discussion/lobbying - 6 year terms for Board members is preposterous - Potential illegality and unconstitutional nature around giving proportional

power on voting rights/levy paid to a taxpayer-funded organization - Wool compensation valuation in the event of an exotic disease

Dairy:

- NZ milk production has doubled in the last decade to 20 bn litres, and milk price has dropped, and continues to drop. Real large-scale viability threat.

Grain:

- Too many varieties of barley in terms of stack efficiency - Industry needs an oat pool – CBH making up to $170/tonne - The freight pool has $30M – should be capped at $10M. This is growers

money. - Despite the relatively early harvest, nobody is selling, so not a lot of grain is

being shipped out, which will cause real issues at Metro Grain Centre. - Supply chain optimization will have potential savings of $10/t

MOTION GSC3/14-04 ‘WAFARMERS RECOMMEND TO CBH THAT THE EXCESS OF TRANSPORT FREIGHT POOL BE RETURNED TO GROWERS. Moved: Mary Nenke Seconded: Bill Cowan CARRIED

Note: John Hassell abstained.

ACTION: Letter to CBH

AGENDA ITEM 12 – GENERAL POLICY REPORTS AGCONNECTWA REPORT No Report TRANSPORT REPORT Bill Cowan gave an update on the Tier 3 and Brookfield Rail situation. There is a conflict of interest between PTA/Brookfield. The compliance and enforcement legislation is due to be enacted in March 2015. This is still a lot of ignorance re: laws around farm machinery and piloting. MOTION MOTION GSC3/14-05 THAT WAFARMERS CALL FOR A ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE 49 YEAR LEASE BETWEEN BROOKFIELD AND GOVERNMENT AND IN PARTICULAR (A) THE INITIAL LEASE AGREEMENT (B) CHANGE AND AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE (C) THE PTA’S ROLES IN MAINTAINING AND ENFORCING THE TERMS OF THE LEASE AND (D) THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION ENQUIRY MOVED: BOB IFFLA SECONDED: LYN SLADE FARM BUSINESS & ECONOMICS Discussions around farm finance/drought schemes presently in WA, and progress of such schemes. . Discussions around the use of superannuation funds to inject capital into agriculture and some issues around that dynamic. ACTION: Farm Business EO conduct research into the barriers preventing investment into agriculture by superannuation funds. ACTION: Farm Business EO to gather more information on the Sustainability Grants offered by Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REPORT The WHS Bill appears draconian. Farmsafe is running short on funds. TRADE, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND RELATED ISSUES REPORT No report

AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION REPORT No report MOTION GSC3/14-06 Moved Marg Agnew, Seconded Mary Nenke WAFARMERS TO ADVISE THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE THAT GENERAL SECTION WILL CONSIDER MOVING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT AT ITS NEXT MEETING DUE TO ISSUES TO BE ADVISED IN A LETTER INVITING HIM TO ATTEND THE MEETING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES. CARRIED ACTION: Each Section to construct a list of their issues to be brought to the

Minister’s attention. INDUSTRIAL REPORT No report LAND MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT No Report EDUCATION AND TRAINING REPORT No report WATER RESOURCES REPORT No report PROPERTY RIGHTS AND SPECIAL ISSUES REPORT No report MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION REPORT No Report RURAL COMMUNITIES Extensive report from Mary Nenke outlining many issues that rural communities deal with and are suffering from. Discussions around telecommunications issues ACTION: Dale to find out why the regional cost of internet and communications is more expensive than metropolitan.

ZONE MOTIONS

General Section

MOTION GSC3/14-07 ‘THAT WAFARMERS REQUESTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT RESCIND THE TIER 3 RAIL NETWORK FROM BROOKFIELD

Moved: Lyn Slade Seconded: Ken Pech CARRIED

ACTION: Policy team to write to the Department of Transport

Avon Zone MOTION GSC3/14-08 ‘THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DO MORE TO ASSIST GROWERS TO CONTROL FRUIT FLY’ Moved: Ken Pech Seconded: Maitland Davey CARRIED ACTION: Policy team to write to the Department of Agriculture John Hassell presented a policy paper on Farm Profitability. There were three motions presented: MOTION GSC3/14-09 THAT THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS FEDERATION CALLS ON THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE PARAMETERS BY WHICH THE INTEREST RATES ARE SET IN AUSTRALIA AND TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN INTEREST RATES IN THE REST OF THE WORLD COMPARED WITH AUSTRALIA Moved: John Hassell Seconded: Marg Agnew CARRIED MOTION GSC3/14-10 THAT INTEREST RATES BE EVENLY APPLIED ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES AND A MORE PRESCRIBED POSITION BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE APPLICATION OF INTEREST RATES FOR FARMERS

Moved: John Hassell Seconded: Ken Clark WITHDRAWN MOTION GSC3/14-11 THAT THE WAFARMERS FEDERATION SUPPORTS FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS AS LONG AS THEY ARE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS; THAT THE WAFARMERS FEDERATION REQUEST THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMET INVESTIGATE THE ABILITY OF THE USA TO OVERCHARGE ON PRODUCTS WHEN WE HAVE A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. Moved: John Hassell Seconded: Mary Nenke CARRIED ACTION: PRESS RELEASE WHERE APPROPRIATE ACTION: REFER TO THE NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION GENERAL BUSINESS Action: Letter to be written to appropriate senior state politicians questioning its justification of spending on Colie-Lake King Road infrastructure over rail. MOTION: GSC3/14-12 WAFARMERS CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE EDUCATION COSTS FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO LEAVE HOME FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, TAX DEDUCTIBLE Moved: Mary Nenke Seconded: Frank House CARRIED

MOTION GSC3/14-13: THAT WAFARMERS URGE THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO REINTRODUCE HEADWORKS GRANTS TO FACILITATE DIVERSIFICATION IN RURAL WA Moved: Mary Nenke Seconded: Ken Pech CARRIED

ADVOCACY CRITERIA

Dale Park referred to the document “Criteria for Adopting an Advocacy Issue” which was distributed at the previous meeting. PRESENTATION – Shaun Moriarty, Muresk Institute. Training Project Manager, Shaun Moriarty, and Business Development Manager, Bev Johnson, gave a presentation outlining the Muresk Institute’s role as a service provider to industry. As a training hub that is a broker for agricultural education, Muresk does not offer courses but partners with education providers who do, such as the University of Queensland, Charles Sturt University and various TAFE colleges. Muresk wants to form a good working relationship with WAFarmers to help give feedback to Muresk on industry-supported courses. AWARDS COMMITTEE A discussion was held in regards to the nominations of industry awards to be forwarded to the Awards Committee. NFF Representation General Section Executive members, other than elected portfolio holders, were invited to nominate to be part of a variety of NFF taskforces, for consideration by the President. Meeting closed at 5.10

Moved:______________________________Seconded:___________________________

Item 4: Business Arising

Action List to be distributed on the meeting day.

Item 5: PRESIDENTS REPORT

(As tabled)

Item 6: WAFarmers Chief Executive Officer report

Item 7: Election of General Section Executive and allocation of portfolio holders

28.5 General Section Executive

The General Section Council shall elect the four members of the General Section Executive, other than the WAFarmers President, WAFarmers Senior Vice President and WAFarmers Vice President, within 30 days of the Annual Conference.

Current Executive

Current portfolios

Transport Farm Business and Economics Occupational Health & Safety Trade, Biotechnology & Related Issues Agricultural Protection Land Management and Climate Change Education & Training Water Resources Rural Communities Special Issues

Mr Dale Park

Mr Tony York

Mrs Lyn Slade Mr

David Leake

Mr

Bill Cowan

VACANT (formerly Steve Dilley)

Mr Ken Clark

Mrs Mary Nenke

Item 8: Commodity Reports

Meat Section Report

Verbal Report

Notes

Dairy Council Report

Verbal Report

Notes

Wool Section Report

Verbal Report

Notes

Grains Council Report

Verbal Report

Notes

Wafarmers Beekeepers Section Report

Verbal Report

Notes

Agconnectwa Report

Notes

Item 9: Zone Motions

Albany Zone Meeting 06/02/15

‘That WAFarmers lobby for the Third party no fault insurance to be applicable to the drivers licence rather than the motor vehicle license’

Moved: Mark Adams Seconded: Matthew Swainston

Carried

Central Great Southern Zone 07/02/15

"That WAFarmers request the Concessional Licensing be extended to full Road Train"

Moved: Kallum Blake Seconded:

Carried

Merredin Zone Meeting 27/01/15

‘That the Merredin Zone writes to the Premier pointing out the situation regarding stacking distances, with particular reference to the Narembeen - Mount Walker Road. This issue also impacts on a number of other roads.’ Moved: Owen Hall Seconded: Kennedy Miller

Carried

Background: The motion reads that Merredin Zone write a letter, Jane Fuchsbichler to write a letter from the Merredin Zone. This is an issue which should be also be followed up on by WAFarmers. ‘That the Merredin Zone write to the Premier objecting to the 15% profit share between PTA and Brookfield Rail. The PTA has a conflict of interest as manager of the Rail Freight Lease Agreement.’ Moved: Richard Steel Seconded: Kennedy Miller

Carried

Background: The motion reads that Merredin Zone write a letter, Jane Fuchsbichler to write a letter from the Merredin Zone. This is an issue which should be also be followed up on by WAFarmers. ‘That the Government introduce a new category of assistance to be called "care taker assistance", designed to keep present farmers on their properties, particularly for those who have been unable to qualify for Federal Government assistance.’ Moved: Richard Steel Seconded: Kevin Fuchsbichler

Carried ‘That WAFarmers support and seek to encourage Climate Change mitigation initiatives.’ Moved: Richard Steel Seconded: Owen Hall

Carried

Item 10: General Section Reports

TRANSPORT BILL COWAN

• TIER 3 RAIL LINES – to be delivered on the day.

ACTION REQUIRED: For discussion

Notes

ECONOMICS AND FARM BUSINESS TONY YORK

- The Tax Reform paper is delayed until June/July release, due to political reasons.

ACTION REQUIRED: For noting.

Notes

DROUGHT REFORM

Rural Financial Counselling Service WA have reported strong activity by banks to clean up stressed accounts, with a large jump in client numbers in 2015

The RFCSWa have had in real terms a funding cut, albeit an extension to December where a decision will be made as to the long term security of the service.

To date, applications to RFDC for Drought Finance Loan Schemes and the Concessional Farm Finance Schemes have been increasing, with 15 of each applied for, with 2 approvals.

Notes

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT KEN CLARK

The WHS Bill submission is available in the office and on the website.

Notes

TRADE, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND RELATED ISSUES TONY YORK

Verbal report on the day

Notes

AGRICULTURE PROTECTION REPORT DAVID LEAKE

Verbal report on the day

Notes

INDUSTRIAL REPORT PHIL BRUNNER

Verbal report on the day

Notes

LAND MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE DALE PARK

Verbal report on the day

EDUCATION AND TRAINING DALE PARK

Verbal report on the day

Notes

RURAL COMMUNITIES MARY NENKE

Verbal report on the day

Notes

AGCONNECT KALLUM BLAKE Verbal report on the day

Notes

Item 11: Policy Document Development

(input required)

DRAFT POLICY ON LAND CLEARING

Background

The introduction of a blanket land-clearing ban by the state government in insert date seriously impacted the property rights of existing landowners. There was no recognition of, or any compensation for, the loss of the right to develop productive farmland and the diminished potential earning capacity for the farm business.

Farmers in Western Australia own agricultural land that has both high conservation and production value for the state economy. Farmers have a strong interest in sustainable agricultural production while at the same time ensuring an appropriate environmental balance.

Current land clearing laws and regulations, as applied to agricultural land, are the source of considerable confusion and frustration and there is concern in the farming community about different standards being applied to agriculture than those that apply to the mining industry or to development in metropolitan areas.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA), Regulation 6 declares all wetlands identified on maps prepared by a private consulting firms as Environmentally Sensitive Areas and as such cannot be grazed or any regrowth removed. Regulation 5, Section 51C (1) makes it illegal to graze or maintain any damp country growing reeds, rushes melaleuca or similar. Some of the areas caught under this regulation have been largely cleared and grazed for many years and would seem to have been unintentionally identified on a map as ESA without on the ground verification.

WAFarmers calls on the state government and agencies to work co-operatively with farmers to ensure land-clearing regulations fairly serve both environmental needs and the requirements of modern farming practices.

Policy

WAFarmers supports:

1. Fair and reasonable payment for productive land owned prior to the introduction of the land clearing laws to compensate for the loss of the right to develop productive farmland and potential earning capacity.

2. A review of and amendment to the legislation to provide clarity and certainty for farmers. 3. The removal of criminal penalties for breaches of land clearing laws and regulations. 4. The amendment of regulations allowing for the clearing of regrowth less than 10 years old to remove

the time limit and enable any regrowth on land used for primary production to be removed. 5. Amendment to regulations to allow the clearing of isolated paddock trees less than 50 metres apart to

facilitate current farming practices and safe machinery use. 6. The review and practical amendment to regulations covering prescribed clearing and Environmentally

Sensitive Areas.

Item 12: GENERAL BUSINESS

(a) Annual Conference Update/Discussion

Next Meeting Date: Tuesday 23rd June, 2015.