WAFarmers president Rhys Turton on mission for unity

New WAFarmers president Rhys Turton is confident he will forge a good working relationship with State Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan, and that he can be a key driver in reshaping and modernising the State’s main farm lobby group.

He describes Ms MacTiernan as “well engaged” with the agriculture industry.

“Minister MacTiernan has stated she doesn’t want to ban live export, but that it does need to pull up its socks,” he said.

“I agree, and it’s good to see there is a lot of work being done by the industry to deliver better animal welfare outcomes.

“I get along with the Minister, and look forward to talking to her further about driving the industry forward.”

The York grain and sheep farmer, elected by members at the WAFarmers AGM last week, said modernising the organisation and growing its membership base would centre on raising the group’s profile and becoming more relevant to both members and non-members.

Mr Turton said to that end, a unified voice for agricultural WA was vital.

He plans to sit down with Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook — who also farms in York — within the next month for a discussion about a way forward for the two organisations in delivering one voice.

“I really struggle with people who say the two organisations have philosophically different perspectives,” he said.

“We are both advocating for a better agricultural world, and strength in unity is essential if we really want to be influential with the decision makers.”

The wheels have already been set in motion to modernise the organisation, which has 1250 members.

At last week’s AGM, there were changes to the constitution, marking the first steps towards a more flexible structure.

The changes allow for a broader range of members, including allied businesses, micro and hobby farmers and general supporters.

Another change is allowing electronic meetings in certain cases.

He said while core activities would focus on advocacy and policy development, effort would also be put into nurturing the next generation of farm leaders.

“It’s also important that as an organisation we continue to bridge the city and country divide, and I’d like to see wider recognition of the huge contribution this industry makes to the broader community and of its world-class farming practices,” he said.

With the possibility of a new Federal government, WAFarmers was already working on several policy positions including those on live exports, research funding, telecommunications and trade.

Mr Turton first became a member of WAFarmers a decade ago. He was elected to the board in 2017 and last year became senior vice-president.

Mr Turton, who studied engineering at Curtin University but admitted he “bombed out badly”, returned in 1991 to York, where he farms with parents Mike and Betty and has the support of a full-time staff member.

He is also chairman of the Council of Grain Growers Organisation.