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Agriculture, Farming & Rural
Media Release: WA Labor's perpetual pollution policy leaves farmers high and dry

Media Release: WA Labor's perpetual pollution policy leaves farmers high and dry

Farmers for Climate Action

  • WA Government walks away from pollution reduction targets

  • Perth dam inflows down 80% since the 1970s because of a drying climate

  • WA’s food supply: Too important to fool with

 

Tuesday, 5 May, 2026

 

The WA Labor Government looks set to walk away from implementing an emission reduction target, leaving WA farmers to bear the cost of further climate impacts, Farmers for Climate Action said today.

 

Climate change is already impacting farmers, with increased heatwaves, reduced dam inflows and seasonal shifts.

Mixed farmer from Corrigin, Simon Wallwork, said now is the time to be bringing emissions down.

“Climate change is already impacting farmers and has reduced farm profits by an average of 23 per cent, or $29,000 per farm per year, in comparison to 1950 to 2000. This is directly hitting the hip pocket.”

“We know that South West WA is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Inflows into Perth's dams have dropped 80% since the 1970s because climate change has reduced rainfall and streamflow across south-west WA. If governments across the world adopt WA Labor's 'pollute in perpetuity' approach, where do we go from here?  

"Farmers are doing our bit. Our industry here has been involved in the WA Carbon Neutral Grain Pilot; we’re looking at electrification options and constantly looking at ways to manage emissions on farm,” Mr Wallwork said

“It’s time for the WA Government to do the same.”

Farmers for Climate Action CEO and Avon Valley local Verity Morgan-Schmidt agreed.

“My family has been farming in the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt since 1836 and in that time, we’ve seen dramatic shifts in our growing seasons. These changes are a direct result of climate change; caused by pollution. 

"Exporting clean products but failing to bring pollution down does very little to address the realities of climate change, " Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.

“I’m frankly sick of governments playing fast and loose over climate change. I’m left scratching my head and thinking: who lobbied WA Labor to walk away from pollution targets? Who benefits from creating more pollution?"


Contact details:

Cam Klose [email protected] 0490 436 948