Primary producers urged to attend meetings about chemical spraying

19/6/97

Primary Industry Minister Monty House today urged primary producers to attend regional meetings being held next month as part of the review of legislation governing agricultural chemical spraying in Western Australia.

Mr House said there had been many changes in agricultural practices over recent decades and the State's legislation needed to reflect these.

The Agricultural Chemical Spraying Review, initiated by the Minister earlier this year and led by Murray Criddle MLC, would review:

·      the need for legislative control;

·      the extent to which current regulations and other legislation were an impediment to the diversification of agriculture;

·      the responsibilities of all parties under the current regulations;

·      current prescribed areas, crops, chemicals and distances from non-target crops; and -

·      administration procedures and penalties for breaches of the regulations.

The review would also develop guidelines for those involved in chemical spraying.

Mr House said that while there were many pieces of legislation providing controls over the use of agricultural chemicals in Western Australia, the focus of the review was on the Agricultural and Related Resources Protection (Spraying Restrictions) Regulations (1979) and the Aerial Spraying Control Act and Regulations (1966).

"In recent years, new and diverse agricultural industries have emerged in unlikely districts, such as vineyards at Mingenew and potatoes at Esperance," he said.

"The emergence of these new industries places great pressure on neighbouring cereal farmers who cannot use their 'traditional' herbicides without running the risk of affecting the farming of new crops."

Mr House said the range and quantity of herbicides and insecticides used by broadscale agriculture had increased considerably over the last 40 years, increasing the risk of chemical effects on new industries.

"There has also been tremendous growth of aquaculture industries in many areas of the State," he said.

"These range from farmers who have yabbies in farm dams, to large aquaculture developments growing marron, yabbies and other aquatic species for the domestic and export restaurant trade.

"These aquatic industries are extremely susceptible to some insecticides widely used by broadscale farmers to control insects in lupins, peas, beans, canola and other crops.

"Wide-ranging consultation in the form of regional meetings over the next month will give individuals, groups and communities the opportunity to express their opinions on the current situation and play a part in shaping any future legislation."

No appointments were necessary and each meeting would start with an introduction by the chairman and other team members, followed by presentations from people attending the meeting. There would be plenty of opportunity for general discussion of the issues.

The schedule for regional meetings is:

July 14                        1 pm                Kununurra Leisure Centre

July 16                        10 am              Geraldton Civic Centre Reception Room

July 17                        10 am              Guildford Town Hall

July 17                        2 pm                Gingin Granville Hall

July 28                        1 pm                Esperance Civic Centre Reception

July 29                        10 am              Albany Shire Council Offices

July 29                        2 pm                Mt Barker Frost Park Pavillion

July 30                        10 am              Merredin Town Hall

July 30                        2 pm                York Pavillion (RSL Hall)

July 31                        10 am              Manjimup Town Hall

July 31                        2 pm                Margaret River Cultural Centre.

The Review Team is encouraging people to make written submissions even if they attend one of the regional meetings.

Submissions would be received until August 15 and should be sent to the review team's executive officer, John Chilby, Chemical Services, Agriculture Western Australia, Locked Bag No.4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA, 6983. Phone: (08) 9368 3881; fax: (08) 9474 2408.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9481 2044