Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the question from the member for Flynn because the member for Flynn would know a lot about the cattle industry. From the Fitzroy basin, in his 133,000 square kilometre seat, come around 2.4 million head of cattle. It is not just his seat that benefits from the live cattle trade; it is a whole range of seats, as I am happy to explain to him.

Since we have been in government we have moved about $1.1 billion worth of live animals and about 2 million head of live sheep. This is real money that goes back through the farm gate to increase the lives and the welfare of people who live on the land. Even in Darwin this week, it is about 195c per kilogram for 270-350 kilogram feet-on steers. I know that the member for Solomon and the member for Lingiari should be very interested in this. I also note it is about $1.75 per kilogram for live cattle in Townsville. This would be very interesting for the member for Dawson and the member for Herbert. We note that the pressure this has put on cattle prices, forcing them up, has brought about a 30c per kilogram increase in South East Queensland, which is about another $100 a head—which I know the member for Wright will be very interested in. We have seen that even grown steers and bullocks have gone up 20c per kilogram today in Toowoomba which I know the member for Groom will be very interested in.

All in all we see that through Darwin, since we have been in government, there has been an approximately 50 per cent increase in numbers through Darwin; a 4,696 per cent increase in numbers through Townsville; a 33 per cent increase in numbers through Fremantle; a 36 per cent increase in numbers through Portland; a 56 per cent increase in numbers through Broome; a 41 per cent increase in numbers through the port of Adelaide—and they do not get much support from that seat; a 133 per cent increase through Wyndham; and 195 per cent through Geraldton. These are the numbers that our government is putting on the table. These are the numbers, and we are improving them.

See this speech in context