{"id":126069,"date":"2026-03-17T15:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/900043692"},"modified":"2026-03-17T15:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:04:18","slug":"state-government-refuses-freight-subsidy-for-gascoyne-farmers-pastoralists-in-desperate-need-of-hay-supplies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/17\/state-government-refuses-freight-subsidy-for-gascoyne-farmers-pastoralists-in-desperate-need-of-hay-supplies\/","title":{"rendered":"State Government refuses freight subsidy for Gascoyne farmers, pastoralists in desperate need of hay supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Imogen Wilson<\/span><\/span>Midwest Times<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/address>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Farmers
Camera Icon<\/title><span class=\"css-1jz8t79-StyledFigCaptionText e13f1dd24\"><span class=\"css-1vt5x9l-Caption e13f1dd23\">Farmers Across Borders road trains delivering hay.<\/span><span> Credit: <!-- -->Farmers Across Borders Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"BreachScreen\">\n<div class=\"css-1ket735-StyledArticleContent ec9stsv2\">\n<div class=\"css-1qizp4e-StyledNestedGrid ec9stsv4\">\n<aside>\n<div class=\"ec9stsv3 css-1wjn2od-StyledSharing-TheWestStyledSharing e1sjvqe43\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-1bgobxc-StyledBlockContent eh7f8mi2\" id=\"ArticleContent\">\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Gascoyne farmers still facing drought are in desperate need of hay, yet a lack of funding and exorbitant fuel prices are stopping precious feed from arriving to their gates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Farmers Across Borders, a volunteer-run charity delivering donated hay to farmers in need, has plenty of hay to go round, yet no money to transport it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The organisation first received a call for help from pastoralists in the Gascoyne region last October and has been supplying those in need since mid-January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said since January the charity had sent 27 road trains and a couple of \u201ctriples\u201d filled with feed for Gascoyne farmers doing it tough.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"css-1l1v578-StyledFigure e1rue1fc3\"><img data-opt-id=758893364 fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/9f6fb8149987e4ed4ef8b67194f7a6ae9f9c92dc.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1\" alt=\"Farmers Across Borders have run out of funds to send road trains to the Gascoyne region.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"><figcaption class=\"e1rue1fc0 figcaption css-fpkd5q-StyledFigCaption-StyledFigcaption e13f1dd25\"><title>Camera Icon<\/title><span class=\"css-1jz8t79-StyledFigCaptionText e13f1dd24\"><span class=\"css-1vt5x9l-Caption e13f1dd23\">Farmers Across Borders have run out of funds to send road trains to the Gascoyne region.<\/span><span> Credit: <!-- -->Farmers Across Borders Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">However, the charity has officially run out of funds leaving them with plenty of hay and no way to deliver it to those calling for help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Ms Starcevich said the charity usually relied on donated funds from the general public but with Gascoyne pastoralists urgently needing hay, there needed to be State Government support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWhat we have been asking the State Government for is a freight subsidy in WA to recognise drought and to help those in need during those times,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThe government has pretty much said no. There is nothing forthcoming but to have a State Government say no to such a huge industry is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Ms Starcevich said with the farming industry being so big in WA, it was hard to believe other States provided a freight subsidy and WA did not.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The State Government had originally provided one round of funding which was quickly used with no confirmation of being continued, Ms Starcevich said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Shane Love, Nationals WA leader and Mid-West MLA, said the government and its minister only seemed to care about animal welfare when it suited their agenda and earned them political points in the city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cOut here, pastoralists aren\u2019t interested in politics \u2014 they just want to see their cattle happy and eating tucker,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWhen thousands of bales of donated feed are sitting there ready to go, but the Government won\u2019t help get it on a truck, which says everything about their priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">With Farmers Across Borders being volunteer run with donated hay, the charity only needed money to cover fuel costs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Farmers who received hay from the charity had reportedly already used the supplied stocks, with many offering to pay themselves for Farmers Across Borders to deliver much-needed feed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"css-1l1v578-StyledFigure e1rue1fc3\"><img data-opt-id=758893364 decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/images.thewest.com.au\/publication\/C-21962334\/1c1ae740e36b9b1e4423d4edacb079f309b0ea92.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3&ssl=1\" alt=\"Farmers Across Borders loading hay bales to go to farmers in need,\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"><figcaption class=\"e1rue1fc0 figcaption css-fpkd5q-StyledFigCaption-StyledFigcaption e13f1dd25\"><title>Camera Icon<\/title><span class=\"css-1jz8t79-StyledFigCaptionText e13f1dd24\"><span class=\"css-1vt5x9l-Caption e13f1dd23\">Farmers Across Borders loading hay bales to go to farmers in need,<\/span><span> Credit: <!-- -->Farmers Across Borders Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Ms Starcevich said the charity was not asking for millions of dollars, only enough for what they needed to transport hay to the Mid West and back \u2014 an exercise which should not be up to the farmers doing it tough to fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">She also said now that fuel prices had significantly increased due to conflict in the Middle East, it gave the government more reason to not provide funding through a freight subsidy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cIt\u2019s extremely frustrating because if we had funding prior and the support before, we probably could have had more feed up there now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cRight now, we just need to put pressure on the government. Or if there are any big businesses who want to sponsor a bloody good cause then that would be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Ms Starcevich said the charity would continue to advocate for the freight subsidy so Gascoyne farmers could receive the deliveries they needed and deserved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"css-10rxewn-StyledLink eok7qd62\" href=\"https:\/\/thewest.com.au\/manage-email-preferences\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-kpp3bs-StyledBannerMessage eok7qd61\">Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"LinkBannerCTA css-ucqz6o-StyledCTA eok7qd60\">Sign up for our emails<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>… the State Government for is a <span class=\"match\">freight<\/span> subsidy in WA to … believe other States provided a <span class=\"match\">freight<\/span> subsidy and WA did … to not provide funding through a <span class=\"match\">freight<\/span> subsidy. \u00e2\u0080\u009cIt\u00e2\u0080\u0099s extremely … continue to advocate for the <span class=\"match\">freight<\/span> subsidy so Gascoyne farmers …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}