THERE has been a mixed response to last week's Federal Budget from the WA agricultural industry.
Prior to the release, key players in the industry had expressed a need for increased funding for infrastructure and research and development as well as investment in WA rail and roads.
But these hopes fell on deaf ears.
One goal was kicked, though, with a boost in biosecurity investment of $525.2 million.
WAFarmers president Dale Park noted the investment but said more funding would be needed to deliver real benefits.
"The current Government has agreed with the recommendations of the Beale Review, however even with this investment, its implementation continues to lack the required funds to make the program a success," Mr Park said.
Mr Park also said he was pleased with the Federal Government's commitment to the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme for farmers but expressed disappointment in the lack of investment in drought reform measures trialled in WA.
"Currently, Australia does not have a replacement for its Exceptional Circumstances (EC) policy.
"WAFarmers believes what is needed is an integrated program which addresses all aspects of drought response, not only preparedness strategies but support to farm businesses suffering the direct impacts of drought," he said.
"Twelve months ago, I noted Labor had delivered a budget that lacked a strong focus on driving agricultural productivity, you have to give them points for consistency."
Regional WA would also be feeling the pinch from the Government's surplus obsession.
According to the Federal Member for O'Connor Tony Crook, the budget was anti-WA and has left the State to pick up the slack from a surplus obsessed Government.
He said regional development suffered under the budget as did WA businesses and the transport sector.
"In a year where the Federal Government expects to raise a significant amount of revenue from WA in the form of the mining tax, it's disappointing that there are still no significant infrastructure developments for regional WA," he said.
"The commitment to using the proceeds from the mining tax to provide company tax cuts has been entirely scrapped from the budget.
"And an increase in costs to heavy on-road vehicles would also leave regional WA feeling the pinch as these costs will flow straight through to the many regional communities who are serviced entirely by on-road transport.
"This surplus has come at a cost to regional health, indigenous health, and increased costs to businesses and families through the carbon tax and the mining tax.
"For all this talk of spreading the benefits of the mining boom, in reality, we are seeing more money being taken out of WA and being invested into Eastern States projects."
Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Rob Gillam also said he wasn't surprised the budget was heavily slanted towards the Eastern States, particularly with the Government's intention to shore up its voter base ahead of the election.
Mr Gillam said he was concerned the diesel fuel rebate would be taken from primary producers but was happy it was not withdrawn in the budget.
"I also noticed the maintenance of the biosecurity funding which is good but primary industry doesn't get much of a show in the Federal Budget these days so I am not surprised," he said.
"They weren't going to get any votes out of WA before this and they certainly won't be getting many after it."
