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

Last Friday I joined a massive rally in the Perth CBD as four separate convoys consisting of 1,700 registered vehicles and over 3,000 farmers and supporters peacefully rolled into town. We were protesting federal agricultural minister Watt's introduction only the day before of the enabling legislation to phase out live sheep exports. The atmosphere was buoyant as farmers, livestock transporters, shearers, feed producers and rural families united under the banner of 'Keep the Sheep'.

Ben Sutherland, vice-president of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of WA, let me ride in his 600-horsepower B-double, aptly named The Last Straw. Benno had travelled 500 kilometres to muster and lead the convoys through the major arteries of Perth. There were kids in pyjamas cheering from the sidewalks and commuters honking their horns in support, and the police were impressed at our convoy management. I want to congratulate all of the organising committee on a great day out.

On the same day, the Keep the Sheep website was launched. It has now ticked over 44,000 sign-ups and has raised over $268,000, which will take this campaign to marginal seats in the lead-up to the federal election.

Minister Watt is so badly mistaken when he quotes that RSPCA push polling and states that, 'Western Australians do not support their farmers.' They absolutely do. We won't be dictated to by Canberra, so if we can't overturn this bad Labor policy, it's time to overturn the Labor government and keep the sheep.