Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that there are reports today that up to six government MPs support the member for Farrer's private member's bill to phase out live sheep exports, does the Prime Minister support the bill? Will the Prime Minister support further debate on the bill and ensure that government members on the Selection Committee are aware of his view so that all members can have their say on this very important issue?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House on a point of order?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, matters to do with the Selection Committee and the schedule of the House are not within the responsibility of the Prime Minister. It was not a general question; it was a very specific question about when the bill will be dealt with and how the process will be unfolding. I'm happy to answer that question, but it's not within the responsibility of the Prime Minister.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will allow the Manager of Opposition Business to speak on the point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the point of order, Mr Speaker: it's impossible I think to view the part of the question that says, 'Does the Prime Minister support the bill?' as being answered by anyone other than the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister pass on his—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business might have just made the point there. That's the only part of the question that I think is in order.

An honourable member interjecting—

No. It's probably best you don't. Certainly I'm going to allow the part of the question that asks whether he supports the bill. The Prime Minister has the call.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The government supports a live export trade that respects animal welfare and obviously respects community views on animal welfare. We are taking immediate action to ensure that animal welfare is maintained, the jobs of thousands of Australian farmers are preserved and our export markets are respected and maintained. As honourable members know, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources commissioned a report from Dr Michael McCarthy. That has recommended a number of changes to the export regime. In summary, on live sheep voyages to the Middle East in the coming northern summer, sheep will get 39 per cent more space and stocking densities will be reduced by up to 28 per cent. The reportable mortality level will be halved from two per cent to one per cent. Independent observers on behalf of the government will be on the vessels to make sure that these standards are maintained. The observers will be reporting daily to the regulator.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, given that you ruled that the only part of the question that was in order was whether or not the Prime Minister supports the private member's bill, he should be relevant to that.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been listening very closely. Manager of Opposition Business, when he's talking about the substance of the topic that is the subject of the bill, I really can't see how he's anything other than in order. The Prime Minister is in order.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The government's objective is, as I said, to ensure that animal welfare is maintained, that animals are treated humanely in this transport, that the livings and viability of Australian farmers—particularly in Western Australia, where most of these shipments are derived—are respected and maintained, and that our export markets are maintained. We do not want to have a repetition of the debacle that we had under the Labor Party, where the entire live cattle export business was banned and, as a consequence, farming families across the nation were facing ruin and the price of cattle crashed, from the far north of the country all the way down to Tasmania. That's the sort of recklessness the government will not be a party to. What we have put in place—along with the minister, who is absent, as I said—is a careful and considered approach based on science, and that is why the government does not support the bill.