FORMER WA Labor Agricultural Minister Kim Chance has died at the age of 70.
As a sheep farmer, Mr Chance was a strong voice in the agricultural industry and served as minister for agriculture between 2001 and 2008 and was in office from 1992 to 2009 as a member of the Legislative Council, representing the Agricultural Region.
In recent years Mr Chance was also the chair of the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) and the Australian Landcare Council.
The farming community paid tribute to Mr Chance on Twitter, after hearing the news.
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan also paid tribute to his former colleague, and described Mr Chance as a "good guy" and said he was a widely respected man in the community.
"A very nice man and a decent human being," he said.
"Mr Chance served as minister for Agriculture and Food in the Gallop and Carpenter government and was widely respected across the community and across the regions as a very, very good minister.
"He represented the State well and served in that role for eight years and served as a member of Parliament for a lot longer than that.
"I'm very sorry to hear he's passed away, and I'm very sorry for his wife Sue, his children, and all of his friends that this has happened.
"I am very sad to hear that Kim Chance, a great West Australian has passed away."