HAVING served three terms as a South West Liberal, WA MP Nigel Hallett says he has moved to better serve his constituents and strengthen farm sector and regional representation by becoming a member of the minor Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF).
Mr Hallett last week announced he had resigned from the WA Liberal Party and would be a SFF candidate at the 2017 State election.
Mr Hallett follows former police minister and Hillarys MP Rob Johnson, who quit the party to become an independent.
Mr Hallett said at a time when agriculture should be at the forefront of the government's agenda, there is a widespread belief in the bush that it had forgotten farmers and regional WA.
"I think farmers feel let down and are looking for a lot more out of their politicians," Mr Hallett said.
"As someone who has been involved in farming for most of my life, I understand that Australia is a trading nation and urgent changes are needed to boost research and development, biosecurity, technology and innovation.
"R&D is essential to driving productivity and profitability at the farm gate. Food security affects our status as a premier food exporting State and exports underpin jobs and producers' prosperity."
Earlier this year Mr Hallett was dropped from the Liberal Party's Upper House's ticket for the next election.
The decision would have ended his parliamentary career, but Mr Hallett's latest move could win him re-election in the 2017 poll with the SFF.
SFF MP Rick Mazza welcomed the well-known Mr Hallett as a passionate advocate for agriculture in the region.
"Mr Hallett is well respected by his constituents and brings more than a decade of parliamentary experience to Shooters, Fishers and Farmers in WA,'' Mr Mazza said.
"We are delighted to accept his membership application.
Mr Mazza said the government's decision to invest $23 million in Doppler weather radar stations was largely due to Mr Hallett's tenacity and persistence and that he was instrumental in reversing last year's decision to close the Jakarta trade office, which would have damaged WA's livestock export and other markets.
"I look forward to working with Mr Hallett to achieve outcomes for the community and supporters of Shooters, Fishers and Farmers," Mr Mazza said.
If elected, Mr Hallett said he would continue to fight for increased prescribed burning in fire prone areas and the establishment of a Rural Fire Service, similar to those in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
"We must learn from past experience and improve future responses to major fire incidents and this can only be achieved through the establishment of rural fire brigades to operate in areas not covered by Fire and Emergency Services," Mr Hallett said.
Mr Hallett, who was elected in 2005, helped deliver key projects for the South West and regional WA, including securing $25m for the WA College of Agriculture Harvey, retaining the Jakarta Trade Office to enhance overseas trade and obtaining funding to expand the WA Doppler radar network.
"While I'm disappointed the government is dragging its feet and has delayed the installation of the first two Doppler radar systems in the Wheatbelt, I believe that once installed, the technology will revolutionise farming practices,'' he said.
Mr Hallett was born in Bridgetown and was involved in mixed farming at Boyup Brook and Corrigin.
He was a shadow spokesman for regional development and for Peel, and sat on several parliamentary committees.
"I am very excited about the challenges ahead and look forward to the opportunity to give WA farmers a strong voice, deliver long-term solutions and protect small business and our freedom to fish, hunt, shoot and camp in WA," he said.
Jacinta Bolsenbroek
Senior journalist at Farm Weekly.
Senior journalist at Farm Weekly.
