THE Nationals WA $300 million agriculture policy will not see the light of day.
That's the opinion of former senior cabinet Minister in the Barnett and member for Eyre, Graham Jacobs, who said it was unlikely The Nationals would get anywhere near its election promise as the State Budget was expected to be tight.
Last week, Nationals WA Central Wheatbelt member Mia Davies said the party's $300m agriculture policy, the party's key State election promise, was non-negotiable at the discussion table, leading up to the State Budget announcement on August 8.
But Mr Jacobs predicted a merger of The Nationals' and Liberal's agriculture policies.
"It won't be $300m," he said.
"It will probably have to be a merger to some extent and it will be much tighter than $300m.
"They (the Nationals) don't have the balance of power and it is going to be a tight budget.
"The Treasury is going to push down on Treasurer Troy Buswell and Mr Buswell is going to push down on the budgetary process."
Many of the Nationals and Liberals agriculture policy announcements were similar, but the Liberals policy totaled to a meagre $42.25m.
Nationals' leader Brendon Grylls has said publicly he remained confident the policy would get through.
But in parliament last week, Premier Colin Barnett admitted he would deliver on the commitments made by the Liberal Party and "the Leader of the National Party will bring his commitments to Cabinet".
Labor leader Mark McGowan said that was a clear indication from the Premier that The Nationals' election promises may be dumped.
"Mr Barnett also stressed that the Liberal and National parties are not a coalition and it appears The Nationals will have to beg Mr Barnett to honour its commitments," Mr McGowan said.
"Mr Barnett's comments confirm that $250m worth of projects promised by the National Party during the State election campaign are far from guaranteed.
"During the campaign, The Nationals leader Brendon Grylls gave regional WA the firm impression that a Liberal-led government would deliver these projects.
"Mr Barnett's comments confirm that this is simply not the case, as they are yet to be approved by Mr Barnett and his Cabinet colleagues."
Dr Jacobs also hit out at The Nationals for being silent over farmer issues relating to government assistance saying a number of his constituents had asked him where the party was on the issues.
"All I say is that it is because they (The Nationals) went around in the lead up to the election saying there was this big pot of money around that they now can't deliver on, it could be the reason why they are quiet," Dr Jacobs said.
"To me the silence is deafening.
"I am just dismayed and disappointing that they haven't really said anything."
The Nationals' election promises which are under threat:
- $6 million for research into market opportunities in Asia and targeted assistance to access these markets.
- $20m to boost grains research and development through the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC).
- $5m to establish an Organic Food Industry Research Centre in Bunbury.
- $15m to establish a Northern Beef Industry Development Centre in the Kimberley.
- $10m to establish a Sheep Industry Development Centre in Katanning.
- $10m to help grain growers better manage risk.
- $40m to implement a statewide Water for Food initiative.
- $2m to conduct a statewide infrastructure audit.
- $75m Infrastructure Investment Fund.
- $20m to implement the WA Open for Business Initiative and help attract investment to regional WA.
- $7m to develop 'Brand WA' to sell WA to the world.
- $20m to increase the profile of WA agriculture.
- $20m to boost business skills of agriculture and food businesses.
