Governments can have a big impact on what happens “on the ground”, and the recent federal election is no exception.

Regardless of how you voted, the result creates a level of certainty about how the next three years will play out, at least in areas that are particularly affected by federal (rather than state) decisions.

So what might the election results mean for nature and people in Outback WA?

By Jason Hastie

I own Pingandy Station, a cattle station in the north-east corner of the Shire of Upper Gascoyne. After purchasing the station I came to realise that the ecology and landscape of Pingandy is highly degraded, as is much of our arid rangelands, and I also came to understand that it is not economically viable for most rangeland pastoral lease holders to adopt the regenerative farming techniques necessary to restore the health of their rangelands from the income that pastoralism (i.e. livestock production) can generate.

For the vast majority of pastoral lease holders, livestock is their single source of income, with the result being that existing degradation causes a slow impoverishment of the pastoral economy and a subsequent continual loss of people and community.

As 2018 draws to a close, it's time to pause and reflect on the year that's been. Together, Outback supporters have worked to create a brighter future for both people and nature in the 90% of our state that is the Outback.

Here's a few of the highlights from the past year...

The Western Australian rangelands will benefit from a significant proportion of contracts in the latest auction round of the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).

“Today’s announcement will provide the chance for WA pastoralists to diversify their income and secure their livelihoods, whilst also regenerating areas of bush spread across millions of hectares of WA’s Outback,” said Suzannah Macbeth, spokesperson for conservation alliance Partnership for the Outback.

In mid-May, the West Weekend magazine's front page featured Frances Pollock of Wooleen Station - whom many of you may remember from episodes of the ABC's Australian Story in recent years.

If you missed the print edition of the magazine, you can now read the full article online here.

I wanted to share a little of the story behind how this front page article came about. 

Last year, I went on a road trip north to Shark Bay for a few days, then a little south and inland via Butcher’s Track and the Murchison Settlement to Wooleen Station. It was my second visit to the station, and I was delighted to be back.

A statement from Partnership for the Outback

Today’s results of national carbon auction signal lucrative new industry for WA

The Western Australian Outback has been the big winner in the announcement today of successful projects from the 7th auction round of the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).

Until now, WA pastoral leases have been excluded from the lucrative carbon farming industry and denied the income and regeneration benefits being enjoyed by other states. However a long-running struggle by pastoralists and conservation organisations to change this, combined with cut-through leadership shown by Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture, Alannah MacTiernan, led to an 11th hour change of policy which made today’s successful bids for carbon projects possible.

In the auction round which issued $90m worth of carbon contracts to 32 carbon projects around Australia, Western Australia picked up half of the total number, securing 16 contracts. 15 of these will take place in our Outback. Assuming the average auction price of $13.52 per tonne of carbon, this equates to $47.5m in carbon contracts over the next 10 years.

This is a real breakthrough for WA's Outback.

A statement from Partnership for the Outback

WA’s leading Outback conservation alliance, Partnership for the Outback, has congratulated the McGowan Government on its decision this week to allow carbon farming across WA’s vast pastoral lease estate – one third of the state - labelling it ‘a genuine breakthrough for people and nature’.

Key points:

• WA Ministers take historic decision to allow carbon farming on pastoral leases to proceed.
• Decision signals the start of a new multi-billion dollar industry for WA, supporting Outback families and regenerating landscapes.
• Full implementation of government reform program essential to secure jobs for the long term and unlock even greater potential of carbon farming.

Two Pilbara pastoralists rode horses to the heart of Perth to deliver an Outback petition with 7000 signatures! What a powerful statement demonstrating just how much Western Australians care about the people, nature and future of our Outback.

Thank you to all who signed the petition or helped organise the event. Enjoy the photos!

Partnership for the Outback is working alongside other concerned groups such as the Isolated Children's Parents' Association WA to fight the WA Government's proposed cuts to WA's Schools of the Air. The following letter, by Lara Jensen from Wondinong Station, is a powerful explanation of why closing Schools of the Air is not acceptable.

Letters to the Editor The West Australian 8 January 2018

A statement from Partnership for the Outback

Governance of pastoral leases has failed to support both lessees and the long term sustainability of land in Outback Western Australia, the findings of a government audit released this week highlight.

The report released by the Office of the WA Auditor General shows that a generation of failed policy across one third of the state has led to a significant decline in the productivity and condition of WA’s Outback.

Spokesperson for Partnership for the Outback, Suzannah Macbeth, said: “The Auditor General’s report identifies a range of critical problems and puts forward some common sense solutions that will be strongly welcomed by all stakeholders. But this report falls way short of addressing the bigger reforms which will provide many of the long-term solutions needed to restore the productivity and health of our Outback lands.”