The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) is calling on the Minister for Environment, the Hon. Donna Faragher, to replace the existing Fertiliser Action Plan with an updated version that contains outcomes which are both achievable and that will deliver real benefits to all stakeholders.

The Fertiliser Action Plan was released in 2007 with the intention of phasing out ‘high water soluble phosphorus’ fertiliser in Western Australia by requiring a full range of new fertiliser products to be developed, trialed and evaluated by 2011.

WAFarmers Director of Policy, Alan Hill, commented that WAFarmers has always been of the strong opinion that the Fertiliser Action Plan is flawed in that it is too narrow in its focus, places too much emphasis on simply removing existing fertilisers, and contains deadlines which are unrealistic.

“Of most concern to WAFarmers is the Fertiliser Action Plan’s deadline for the phase out of ‘high water soluble phosphorus’ fertiliser’ by June 2011.”

“Even with the full commitment of Government and stakeholders this was always a very ambitious target.

“The Fertiliser Action Plan is already well behind it’s timeline for the delivery of ‘low water soluble phosphorus’ fertiliser,” Mr Hill said.

“Compounding this, a lack of successive Government investment in the Fertiliser Action Plan’s required research and extension program, means that even if ‘low water soluble phosphorus fertiliser’ was available, industry would be at least three years behind the plans implementation targets.

“Minister Faragher must acknowledge the flawed situation without further delay, and move to improve the situation,” said Mr Hill.

WAFarmers has been encouraged by recently released Fertiliser Action Plan Fact Sheet (Fact Sheet 1 – Implementing the Fertiliser Action Plan) which references growers using “best practice” of existing products, a deviation from the original approach of the replacement of product.

“WAFarmers would strongly encourage the Minister to pursue this line of thinking, rather than that of the previous Government’s flawed Fertiliser Action Plan.”

“This would provide a better outcome for the environment and industry,” concluded Mr Hill.