vegetables WA

𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐖𝐀 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

Vegetables WA, as a member of the NFF Horticulture Council and the Compliance Taskforce, recently joined a consortium of horticulture industry representatives in Canberra to engage with Ministers, parliamentarians, and senior Department of Agriculture officials. Discussions focused on several critical issues, including the current fuel crisis, the development of a national food security strategy, compliance pressures, chemical regulation, DAFF export cost recovery, and workforce challenges. The Council also convened a dedicated workshop on Market‑Driven Compliance, bringing together auditors, certifying bodies, standard owners, growers, and Council members. The workshop examined the key challenges facing industry and worked to identify shared priorities and a coordinated path forward. All meetings were well received. We were able to strongly advocate for growers and emphasise the harsh and rapidly deteriorating conditions facing the horticulture sector. We reinforced the critical importance of food security and the need for government support to ensure the ongoing viability of vegetable production across Australia.