Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to condemn agriculture minister Murray Watt for his refusal to release the much-anticipated report of the independent panel on the phase-out of live sheep export by sea. The live export ban was actually announced by the activist organisation Australian Alliance for Animals during the 2022 election campaign, and this government still proudly supports it, despite the dire economic consequences shared with the panel during stakeholder consultations earlier this year. Last week, the government refused three FOI requests begging for the release of this 230-page document.

WA farmers, transporters, stock agents and exporters remain in limbo. Industry confidence has plummeted, and sheep prices have fallen to record lows. It is now cheaper to shoot sheep than to transport them to market, yet the PM recently proclaimed in question time that the industry can't react to something that hasn't happened yet. This government is a disgrace. Its departments are failing to advise on the damage this phase-out will cause to our domestic agricultural industries and our international trade reputation. In Senate estimates, ABARES admitted they had not done any modelling on the economic impacts of the phase-out and nor had they spoken to any growers, processors or exporters, and DFAT admitted they had not investigated the wider trade implications of the loss of this $85 million industry. I invite the PM and Minister Watt to come to WA, look my constituents in the eyes and explain why Green preferences are more important than their livelihoods.