Chair of the Coalition Agriculture Policy Committee Rowan Ramsey said he was pleased the committee’s report and supporting submissions into live-sheep export had been successfully tabled in the Federal Parliament.
“My initial request to table these documents in the Parliament yesterday following my Private Members Motion on the issue was denied by Labor, but following a back-flip during the day a subsequent Coalition speaker was allowed to table these documents when the debate resumed,” Mr Ramsey said. “I am at least thankful for the change of heart.”
The committee report documented the findings of a series of forums in SA and WA by the Ag Policy committee.
“In total, ten members of the Coalition travelled SA and WA to listen to industry participants and were shaken by the widespread pessimistic view they collectively held for the future,” Mr Ramsey said.
“There can be no doubt the Albanese Government’s decision hangs like a black cloud over the Western Australian market, growers are exiting the industry and excess numbers are heading east over the border and depressing markets there as well.”
Growers and stock agents told the committee there is a collapse of confidence in the sheep industry and moral is the lowest they had ever seen.
“The industry feels betrayed,” Mr Ramsey said. “They have met every demand, passed every bench mark, reduced stocking rates, increased ventilation, put vets on board, implemented a Northern Hemisphere summer pause, but it is never enough.
“This is because this is not an issue of science and standards, it is of ideology and Labor trying to fight off Greens in the inner city electorates. Electorates where the interests of farmers and regional Australia are traded off as an electoral bargaining chip.
“Labor commissioned an Independent Panel Report into the trade and Ag Minister Murray Watt has been sitting on the findings since October. What is he hiding?
“The Minister and his Labor colleagues will not go and talk to farmers and industry workers, that is why we were there, so they had someone to tell their story to. Some of those stories are attached to this report, now tabled in the House.
“If Labor will not meet the industry, I urge them to at least extend them the courtesy of reading the report and the industry submissions, try and understand the facts and commit to reconsidering this damaging, unscientific and unfair policy.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 02 62774967
March 26 2024