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• WA's Pastoralists and Graziers Association enters administration amid 'financial misconduct' probe

WA's Pastoralists and Graziers Association enters administration amid 'financial misconduct' probe

The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia (PGA) has entered voluntary administration, a week after it suspended operations following the uncovering of financial misconduct within the organisation.

The organisation, a lobby group for WA's agricultural sector, appointed RSM Australia partners Jerome Mohen and Greg Dudley as administrators on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Mohen said the PGA made the decision to appoint administrators after identifying financial irregularities and a funding shortfall.

"The PGA executive and committee remain committed to seeing the organisation work through the administration process and continuing its longstanding function as a respected representative of the agricultural community," Mr Mohen said.

"Prior to our appointment, the organisation became aware of irregularities within its financial records leaving an immediate financial shortfall."

Mr Mohen said the administrators would work closely with PGA management to "secure short-term working capital so PGA can continue operations while we conduct our investigations into the noted financial irregularities".

"At the same time, we will review the PGA's operations with a view to completing an appropriate restructure of the organisation's operations and financial position so that it can successfully exit the administration process," he said.

Last week, the group put itself into voluntary suspension to address the issues.

The PGA acknowledged there was a "financial deficit" but would not disclose the exact amount of money that was missing.

It said in a statement that executive and committee members had recently become aware of "serious financial misconduct within the organisation".

The PGA is one of two major lobby groups representing agricultural industry interests across WA, the other being WAFarmers.

It has played an ongoing role in the campaign against the Albanese Government's legislated ban on live sheep exports, and also took a lead role in efforts to overturn the WA Government's controversial changes to the state's Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Gascoyne pastoralist Kim Forrester has been a member of the advocacy group for more than 60 years and followed in the footsteps of his father.

Mr Forrester said he would be disappointed if they ceased to exist.

"We need someone to advocate on our behalf and the PGA do it extremely well," he said.

"The Farmers Federation have done it [represented farmers] and been in the pastoral industry but probably not to the extent the PGA has represented the pastoral industry. "You virtually need to be a lawyer when you're dealing with these people. It's beyond the pastoralist I believe."

Taken from ABC News on January 30, 2025.