Nationals pitch Geraldton for Commonwealth drought research hub

The WA Nationals want the Federal Government to base a research hub in Geraldton, Northam or Albany to help prepare farmers and regional communities for drought. It comes after the Government announced its intention to establish two Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs in regional Australia, funded by $20.3 million from the Future Drought Fund. The Nationals agriculture spokesman Colin de Grussa said this provided a unique opportunity for one of these hubs to be located in regional WA. “WA represents a third of Australia’s total land-mass and we are a significant contributor to agriculture, representing 18 per cent of Australia’s total agriculture production,” Mr de Grussa said. “Albany, Geraldton or Northam already have strong ties to the agricultural sector, connections to regionally based universities and would be able to make a strong case for being part of this program.” Member for Durack Melissa Price said she was “pushing hard” for the establishment of one the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs in her electorate of Durack, which included Geraldton. “I believe the establishment of one of these facilities would be due recognition of the consistent innovation of Durack’s farmers and their consistent adoption of technology to assist and grown their businesses,” she said. “I am discussing with Minister Littleproud the implementation of the eight programs that have been announced as part of the fund.”