The 2024 Wheatbelt Futures Forum in Northam last week highlighted the economic strength of the region.
In the forum's program foreword Minister for Regional Development Don Punch said the Wheatbelt region continues to perform as one of the State's most stable economies, with a diverse and innovative economy, underpinned by agriculture and mining, with a significant small business sector.
He said the region plays an important role in the WA economy, and in national and global food security.
Mr Punch did not attend the forum.
Statistics on the Wheatbelt Region
- The Gross Regional Product of the Wheatbelt increased from $7.4 billion in 2018 to $8.7bn in 2023.
- Over this period, the contribution of the agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining sectors to the total gross revenue output of the region has increased considerably.
- Specifically, gross revenue generated from the agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining sectors has increased from $4.01bn in 2018 to $4.3bn in 2023.
- Gross revenue generated from the mining sector has tripled, from $1.9bn in 2018 to $4.28bn in 2023.
- Gross revenue generated from the manufacturing sector has also increased over time from $825 million in 2017 to $1.06bn in 2023.
- Employment in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining sector has remained consistent over this period, with the number of jobs in the sector increasing only very slightly from 8968 in 2018 to 9039 in 2023.
- The contribution of mining exploration and support services to total mining gross revenue output in the region has also increased during this period, from $33.1m in 2017 to $180.5m in 2023
- The Wheatbelt unemployment rate was 3.63 per cent in June 2021, 3.66pc in June 2022, and has decreased over this period to 2.54pc in June 2023.
Belinda Morrissy
Farm Weekly journo, researching ag related stories relevant to our readership, with a strong focus on grains. Proud West Aussie, sad West Coast supporter!
Farm Weekly journo, researching ag related stories relevant to our readership, with a strong focus on grains. Proud West Aussie, sad West Coast supporter!
