Pastoralists maintain lease rage

"Hopping mad" pastoralists have been given extra time to fight the full publication of a report into pastoral land viability, which they say has the potential to undermine the State's industry.

Late last week the Pastoralists and Graziers Association was informed by the Office of the Information Commissioner (WA) that its application to prevent the release of a controversial report into the viability of the 62 Pilbara pastoral leases had been granted until November 24, this year.

News of the decision comes just days after more than 30 furious pastoralists met with the PGA in Broome last week and almost unanimously agreed to join a legal fighting fund to prevent the full release of the damaging report undertaken by Department of Agriculture and Food WA.

The PGA established the fund after shadow minister for lands Chris Talentine asked for information to be disclosed on the assessments of 62 Pilbara leases, which were covered as part of the Viability of Pastoral Leases in the Northern Rangelands and Southern Rangelands Region Based on Biophysical Assessment report.

The December 2010 report projected viability of pastoral leases across the regions by assessment of biophysical parameters and, in particular, analysed the inherent landscape productivity and its capacity to be managed in an ecologically sustainable manner.

The report concluded only 26 per cent of the State's 446 northern and southern rangelands pastoral leases were viable.

Spokesman Sheldon Mumby said the PGA needed the extra time to establish contact with all the affected pastoralists.

"The PGA recently sent a letter to each of the pastoral lease holders in the Pilbara region, regarding the release of this controversial information on pastoral leases, by the shadow minister of Lands Chris Talentine," he said.

"The purpose of the letter was to establish a collective approach in fighting against the release of this information.

"And we were required to give written notice to the commissioner by November 10, 2014."

Mr Mumby said the extra time was valuable because it was a difficult period to make contact with many pastoralists because they were mustering.

"We've contacted a number of stations that have still not responded and we're still continuing our attempts to make contact with those pastoralists so our lawyers are able to prepare a solid response," he said.

"Of the pastoralists we have spoken to, nearly all are supportive of us taking this action."

PGA president Tony Seabrook said the group was now under pressure from its members to mount a legal challenge, but it was important to exercise due diligence.

"Disclosure of this report could mean financial devastation of many pastoralists, but it is important that we get all the facts in the matter right rather than include emotive testimony on the issue," he said.

Affected Pilbara station owner Don Hoar said he was so angry about the report he was not only contributing to the PGA fighting fund, but also seeking independent legal advice on the matter.

"Whoever wrote the report had no idea what they were doing," he said.

"How can they categorise a property as A, B or C when the authors have never been on the station to know anything about it."

"Quite frankly, everyone is baffled why Mr Talentine has singled out those 62 Pilbara leases."