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Regional Price Index 2023
No full textThe 2023 Regional Price Index (RPI) is the eleventh State Government Index contrasting the cost of a common basket of goods and services at a number of regional locations to the Perth metropolitan region. The RPI is used as the basis for the construction of the public sector district allowance, and by the private sector when considering remuneration packages for remotely located staff.
The RPI provides an insight into differences in regional consumer costs. The 2023 RPI basket of 185 goods and services was priced in 39 regional centres around Western Australia.
The 2023 RPI results show that, overall, prices are more expensive than Perth in all regions except for the Mid West and South West. Prices were highest in the Pilbara region, followed by the Kimberley and Gascoyne.
Consistent with the 2021 RPI, the region with the highest food category index for the 2023 RPI was the Kimberley, and the two regions with prices lower than Perth were the South West and Peel. The cost of food items compared to 2021 increased in Perth and in all regions, largely due to rising inflation. The 2023 RPI, compared to 2021, showed a reduction in this category across all regions.
In the Pilbara, housing was particularly high, with health and personal care also high, and all other categories higher than Perth prices.
In the Kimberley and Gascoyne regions, housing was high, with prices also higher than Perth in all other categories. In the Goldfields-Esperance region, health and personal care, transport and education and recreation were above Perth prices but lower than the regional index for these categories in 2021.
The Mid West and the South West regions were both lower overall than Perth, with all categories only slightly higher or slightly lower costs than Perth. The Peel region was also very close to Perth prices across all categories.
The Wheatbelt had lower housing prices than Perth, with the highest category being cigarettes, alcohol and tobacco, though this was lower than the regional index in 2021. In the Great Southern region, housing was the highest category, with transport and education and recreation also higher than Perth.
A more detailed breakdown, contrasting the eight commodity groups across regions, is available in the maps.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/rd_statistics/1010/thumbnail.jp
Ecological risk assessment for the Western Australian Large Pelagic Fish Resource
No full textIn December 2023, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) convened an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of the fisheries that access the Statewide Large Pelagic Fish Resource (Resource). This Resource comprises a range of tropical and temperate species including mackerels, billfish, kingfish, cobia, mahi mahi and tunas. This document contains the background information used to support the ERA risk scoring process, scoring from the workshop and a summary of the workshop discussions that were relevant to the risk scoring. This includes an overview of Western Australian commercial fisheries that access the Resource, with a focus on the Mackerel Managed Fishery. This report also includes information about recreational and charter fisheries that access the Resource. ERAs are conducted by the Department as part of its Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management framework. Accordingly, the ERA will consider the potential ecological impacts of harvesting of the Resource. This includes impacts of fishing on all relevant retained and bycatch (non-retained) species, endangered, threatened and protected species, aquatic habitats and the broader environment. Risk scores were determined during the ERA workshop, based on available scientific information and expert knowledge. The assessment will conform to the AS/NZS ISO 31000 risk management standard, and to the methodology adopted by the Department, which uses a consequence-likelihood analysis for estimating risk. A broad range of stakeholders were invited to participate in the ERA workshop, including representatives of the commercial, recreational, and charter fishing sectors, State and Commonwealth Government agencies, the conservation sector, universities, and DPIRD staff including fisheries managers, scientists, compliance officers and biosecurity personnel. In this ERA, forty-one ecological components were scored for risk. The vast majority (39) of ecological components were evaluated as low or negligible risks, which do not require any specific control measures. There were 2 medium risks, which were assessed as acceptable under the current monitoring regime and control measures that will be in place over the next five years. No components were scored as high or severe risks. It is recommended that the risks be reviewed in five years
AI-ready datasets for proof-of-concept weed detection using drones
No full textHigh throughput surveillance is often the key to success of weed eradication programs, particularly for those inconspicuous in the landscape. Although remote sensing would be preferred to address this problem, it can be challenging and costly.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly developing and becoming readily accessible, allowing to solve problems previously unsolvable with alternative methods, especially image analysis on diverse conditions, or surrounding environment variability.
This paper presents the process to plan, create, and manage imagery datasets for the detection of two declared species under eradication: skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea) and rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) in Western Australia. It is currently implemented employing open-source software for annotating imagery, training detection models, and performing data versioning and experiment tracking.
This low-cost process enables Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) within weed managing agencies to be intrinsically involved in developing high-quality datasets and model prediction results. This feedback process improves model’s predictive output, helping achieve eradication goals and allowing to keep up with the rapid innovations in AI developments
Control of common heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum L.) with herbicides
No full textCommon heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum L.) is a toxic weed of pastures and crops that is difficult to control and has multiple germinations over summer. Delaying control until the final germination has often resulted in poor control of the mature plants. Twenty-six herbicides were tested for their efficacy on mature heliotrope in replicated trials at two sites in Western Australia. A logarithmic sprayer was used to apply the herbicides at rates up to 10 times the normal use rates. Glyphosate (360 g/L) as Roundup® at 1L/ha, diquat 115g/L + paraquat 135g/L as Spray.Seed® at 1 L/ha, glufosinate-ammonium (200 g/L) as Basta® at 2 L/ha or amitrole (250g/L) + ammonium thiocyanate (220 g/L) as Amitrole T® at 4 L/ha provided adequate control of flowering to seeding heliotrope. Five other herbicides (diflufenican, fluroxypyr, terbutryn, 2,4-D + picloram and aminopyralid + picloram + triclopyr also provided control at high rates of application. Assessments of the companion weeds, small crumbweed (Dysphania pumilio R. Br.), camel melon (Citrullus amarus Schrad.) and caustic weed (Euphorbia drummondii Boiss.) allowed recommendations for mixed infestations to be made. Assessment of the following wheat crop indicated that none of the herbicides used had significant residual effects
Inert mineral mulches provide an additional grain yield on alkaline-sodic-saline soils of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia
No full textPoor water relations reduce crops grown on alkaline-sodic-saline soils in low rainfall environments of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia (\u3c 350mm, annual rainfall). The poor water relation is due to the high sodium content, which results in soil dispersion and low water infiltration, and the saline conditions associated with transient salinity, which result in osmotic stresses that reduce water availability. We investigated the impact on grain yield using novel soil amelioration systems, which include gypsum applied at a low rate (G0.1, 0.1 t ha-1), in-furrow compared to a high rate (G3.0, 3.0 t ha-1), gravel mulch (GM) (2–4 cm) thick applied to the soil surface and deep tillage using a Paraplow (PP) to 35 cm at three sites in the shires of Mullewa (Devils Creek), Merredin (Moorine Rock) and Esperance (Grass Patch) in 2022 and 2023. The GM treatment increased the average yield by 0.53 t ha-1 (0–1.24 t ha-1) across all sites and years, representing a mean percent yield increase of 54% (0–164%). The G0.1, G3.0, and PP treatment\u27s main effects were insignificant. Physical constraints are not the greatest constraint in these soils so investment in deep ripping can be ruled out until chemical constraints are managed. The only site to respond to gypsum was sodic with low EC in the topsoil. Mulching, through inert mineral mulch, can provide yield stability during drier seasons
Welcome -Turning the Dial Conference
No full textOur host, Josh Byrne will extend a warm welcome to all attendees, setting the tone for a day filled with learning, networking, and collaboration. During this session, we\u27ll cover essential housekeeping details to ensure everyone has a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout the event
Sustainable Packaging - A Global Perspective
No full textNerida will provide a global view on what sustainable packaging really looks like for WPO Members. There are many pieces to the jigsaw puzzle when discussing Sustainable Packaging and there is no silver bullet as every product needs a fit-for-purpose, functional solution
WA Best Practice in Packaging
No full textJoin us for an insightful session led by Jacqui Kay, Agricultural Produce Commission Communications Officer, as we explore best practices in packaging within Western Australia.
Jacqui has been working in FMCG for 20 years and has seen the evolution of consumer packaging over the years.
Now is the time for brands to work with strategic partners to find more sustainable packaging solutions. Jacqui will talk through an award winning case study from WA that demonstrates what is being achieved
Grains, seeds and hay industry funding scheme annual report 2022/2023
No full textThe Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) has been operating since 2010 to address biosecurity threats relevant to Western Australia’s (WA) grains, seeds and hay industry. The Scheme was established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 to enable growers to identify the pest and disease priorities at a whole-of-industry level and raise funds for activities to address these priorities.
There are currently three Industry Funding Schemes in operation. In addition to the Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS, there is a Cattle IFS and a Sheep and Goat IFS. The three IFSs operate in a similar manner.
For the Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS, funds are raised through grower contributions that are collected by registered receivers. These payments are forwarded to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). In accordance with the IFS regulations, DPIRD maintain and administer the Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Declared Pest Control and Compensation Account (the Account) in consultation with the industry