PASTORALISTS and Graziers Association (PGA) president Rob Gillam has been re-elected for a sixth term at the lobby group's annual general meeting last week.
Mr Gillam was challenged for the leadership position by Kimberley pastoralist Ruth Webb-Smith, but won the election with a massive 83 per cent majority.
It was the first contested election the PGA had had in more than 30 years.
"This is a tremendous endorsement by the members of the PGA of the hard work that has been done by the executive team and I look forward to continuing to serve our members' interests in the best possible manner," Mr Gillam said.
Mr Gillam said under his leadership the PGA would address several key issues over the next year including securing a stronger tenure for pastoral leaseholders; establishing a fair and more equitable system to determine pastoral rents; reversing the Government's decision to remove the Native Title Respondent Funding Scheme; opposing any further regulatory increases on live exports; repeal the GM Free Crop Areas Act; and ensuring construction of the James Point Private Port begins.
"Our members do not expect the PGA to solve every problem, but they do expect us to fight for those issues which will deliver the fairest and best outcomes for the entire industry," he said.
"It is our unfinished task to make sure that State and Federal Governments work on our behalf; that they encourage free enterprise, reward individual initiative and open the doors of opportunity to every farmer and pastoralist in this State."
Mr Gillam had originally been expected to retire from the position but has decided to continue on with the support of the members.
