Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney has just arrived, but I'm certainly not directing my comments at her! Over those years of talking about live sheep export, I had many calls from farmers themselves, who said: 'You know what? Eventually we won't be doing this anymore. We care for our animals. We love our animals, and we do not want them to be subjected to cruelty.'

I know that Australian farmers are some of, if not the most, innovative people across the globe. They know this change is coming. They themselves have been part of the change for the last three decades. We have seen an industry in decline. Some members opposite have said, 'Well, if it's declining, why didn't you just leave it to decline?' Because we are a responsible government. We take notice of the industry and farmers. We know that they need assistance with this transition, and that's why we've put up $107 million. As part of this review of the legislation, the agriculture committee have requested that the government have a look at that package with an eye to increasing it.

Like my fellow committee members, I travelled to Muresk, and I want to take a moment to thank people from the Muresk Institute. The member for Durack come along, as the local member. I want to take a moment to thank those people who came. Over 3½ thousand people came. Admittedly, a lot of those people were upset by the decision, but we turned up and we listen, and I'm pleased that we went there. It was actually very important. That's why we have said, 'Yes, we need to assist the industry in the transaction.' We know that it will mean change. But this industry has already been changing, and what we are doing is the responsible thing, the thing that responsible governments do. They recognise when change is coming and they manage it, unlike those opposite, who just turn a blind eye and say, 'We'll just let this industry wither on the vine; we'll just let it die on the boat.' We won't stand for that. We won't stand for the animal cruelty. We won't leave our farmers high and dry. We will be working for them and with them.

It is disingenuous for those opposite to say: 'Oh, we're sticking up for our industry. We're doing the right thing by them. We understand it,' when actually they're not. If they were supporting this industry, they would be helping them. They understand that at the moment we are exporting the same number of sheep in 12 months that are processed in four days across Australia. Roger Fletcher, one of the biggest meat processors across the country, gave evidence to our committee that said we will be able to process the same number of sheep that go on those boats, many of them under incredible duress, in four days. Not only that; we will be able to create good jobs in Australia. We'll be able to increase the boxed meat that goes offshore.

Can I say to those people who are very concerned about their future, we do get it. We do understand. We want to make Australian agriculture even more prosperous and sustainable for the future. We do want to work with you. The future is coming fast, and those opposite deny it.

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