Parched pastoralists preparing for dry response

The McGowan Government says it is finalising a list of priority drought initiatives to submit for Federal Government funding and will be fighting to ensure WA receives its fair share.

WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan last week revealed the State Government also had a “dry season response program under way”.

The comments came as State Member for Kalgoorlie Kyran O’Donnell said he believed the McGowan Government was not doing enough to help struggling WA pastoralists who were facing the crippling effects of a drought.

Mr O’Donnell said there were convoys of trucks carting hay to drought-stricken farmers in the Eastern States but the reality was WA farmers and pastoralists were “hurting”.

“The farmers and pastoralists are using the word drought but the State Government is playing it down by saying there is only a dry season,” he said.

“We need practical solutions to help our farmers going through this hardship instead of hanging them out to dry because this is the field that they have chosen as their livelihood.

“The Government should step up and champion them.”

Well-known pastoral identity and Kalgoorlie Pastoral Alliance executive officer Ross Wood said the Nullarbor was the driest he had ever seen and something had to be done to help.

“I know there are a lot of guys that are struggling to keep their animals alive because of drought conditions and their dams going dry,” he said.

“The drought is biting all areas of the Goldfields except potentially just around Kalgoorlie.

“I think everyone has been sitting back and wondering why Western Australia hasn’t been receiving any drought assistance yet it seems to be happening in the Eastern States all the time.”

Ms MacTiernan said the State Government had sought to tap into the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund, which will open on July 1 next year, to improve past-oral drought resilience in WA.

Ms MacTiernan said the State Government had a dry season response program under way and was working closely with pastoralists to support seasonal management.

“Departmental officers have visited more than 100 pastoral properties across the State since July, including more than 20 in the southern rangelands,” she said.

“The visits are focused on ensuring that pastoralists are prepared for the ongoing dry season in order to avoid animal welfare issues.

“While the majority of pastoralists are managing these conditions, the department is working with a small number of properties around livestock management measures given the season, including steps to improve water provision.

“Pastoralists concerned about whether they have sufficient feed to ensure their animals’ welfare should contact DPIRD’s dry season response group.”