Media Release: NACC NRM joins NRM leaders in voicing regional priorities to Parliament House

The event was hosted by the office of Senator the Hon Slade Brockman, Deputy President of the Senate, co-convened by Senator Varun Ghosh and emceed by Senator Dean Smith. Attendees included Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Resources, Regional Development and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Senator David Pocock; Rick Wilson MP, Member for O’Connor; and Kate Chaney MP, Member for Curtin, together with other senators and members of Parliament.

NACC NRM CEO Katherine Allen joined NRM WA at the Partnering for Prosperity reception in the Senate Courtyard on Wednesday 16 September, where regional leaders met with parliamentarians and outlined the priorities facing their regions.

The delegation’s message was clear: regional NRM organisations are already working on the ground with the people who know their landscapes best, and sustained investment is needed to maintain the relationships, knowledge and capability behind that work.

“We wanted to put a face to the work happening across Western Australia and make it clear that organisations like NACC NRM have both the experience and the capability to deliver lasting outcomes,” Mrs Allen said.

For NACC NRM, that work extends across the Northern Agricultural Region, encompassing biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, coastal and marine environments and Aboriginal custodianship. NACC NRM works alongside Traditional Owners, landholders, farmers, community groups, industry, researchers and government to support practical action across a vast and diverse landscape.

Senator for Western Australia Varun Ghosh said NRMWA’s work is vital to safeguarding WA’s unique natural assets.

“Western Australia has the most beautiful and diverse natural environment in the world. It is vital for the health and prosperity of our great state that our environment is protected for future generations. The hard work, diligence and expertise of Natural Resource Management WA play a critical role in this endeavour.”

From protecting threatened species and restoring remnant habitat to improving soil health, supporting sustainable farming practices and caring for coastal and wetland environments, much of this work relies on relationships and knowledge built and nurtured over many years.

“Our regions are a long way from Canberra, but the environmental challenges we are working on are nationally significant. Being here gives us an opportunity to speak directly with decision-makers about what our communities need and what it takes to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes on the ground,” said Mrs Allen.

The regional NRM network is advocating for greater continuity in Commonwealth investment, highlighting the risks associated with short-term and stop-start funding. When funding programs conclude, not only do the environmental challenges they address remain, but there can also be significant impacts to the regional workforce, community participation, monitoring programs and relationships with landholders and Traditional Owners.

“The recovery of threatened species, restoration of habitat, improvement of soil health and strengthening of community capacity all take sustained effort. Long-term investment allows us to build on progress rather than continually starting over,” said Mrs Allen.

Western Australia’s seven regional NRM organisations are approved Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners, providing an established pathway for government to commission regional work. The regional network is calling for the existing Regional Delivery Partners arrangements to be used to support coordinated, multi-year investment in priorities across Western Australia.

Senator Dean Smith said regional NRM provided an essential link between government investment and people with the local knowledge to deliver.

“NRM organisations provide the vital bridge between government policy and practical results, connecting investment with the people who know the country and are best placed to deliver,” Senator Smith said.

For NACC NRM, sustained regional investment supports the continuity needed to build on work already underway across the Northern Agricultural Region and respond to emerging environmental and agricultural challenges.

The Canberra visit marks an important step for NRM WA leaders to strengthen direct dialogue with federal decision-makers and ensure regional perspectives remain part of conversations about Australia’s environmental and agricultural future.

NACC NRM will continue working alongside its regional NRM partners to advocate for investment that supports strong regional communities, healthy landscapes and lasting environmental outcomes.

Next Steps

NACC NRM and NRMWA will follow up with parliamentary offices and Commonwealth departments within the next four weeks. They will seek a nominated Commonwealth lead and a program-design meeting to scope a coordinated multi-year work package through the Regional Delivery Partners Panel.

All seven of WA’s NRM groups have strong delivery and governance arrangements in place. This presents an exciting opportunity for the WA Government to establish a statewide core-funding arrangement and engage consistently with regional NRM groups across our vast state. Western Australia is the only jurisdiction without a statewide core-funding arrangement for regional NRM delivery.

NRMWA thanked Senator Brockman and his office for hosting the event, Senator Ghosh for co-convening, Senator Smith for serving as Master of Ceremonies, and the senators and MPs who met with the regional delegation.

ENDS