David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. In the gallery today are farmers whose livelihoods depend on the live sheep export industry. If the government continues with its ban on live sheep exports, Sudan is one country that will take up Australia's share of this market. Prime Minister, who has higher animal welfare standards—Sudan or Australia?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the National Party for his question. I met with the leadership of the National Farmers Federation once again earlier this morning to discuss this issue, just as I have had constructive discussions with sheep farmers here in Canberra and with their families in Kalgoorlie. One of the things that I pointed out was that, when the Leader of the National Party came into government in the first year, in 2014-15, 2.1 million sheep were exported by sea at a value of $224 million. In the last year in which they held office, there were 475,000 sheep exported by sea at a value of $80 million. Over the decade that the Liberals and Nationals were in government, live sheep exports by sea decreased by over 1.5 million head. That is just a fact of what occurred. At the same time, exports of sheepmeat have escalated to some $4 billion of value.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, the member for Hume. I'll take a point of order from the Leader of the Nationals.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, it was a very tight question about who had higher animal welfare standards—Sudan or Australia. We're a minute and a half in. I would ask, Mr Speaker, for your ruling: is the Prime Minister being relevant?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand your point of order, and I appreciate that that's the question that you're seeking an answer for, but you did also—

No. If you're talking about live sheep exports and you're talking about the government's position on what they've done about that issue—you didn't simply ask the question about Sudan; you had a preamble there. So, whilst the Prime Minister is able to talk—

Order. But he is being directly relevant. We just need to make sure—the Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, just with rulings you've given previously, with respect to when you're actually making a ruling: I respect completely that members will come to the dispatch box and raise a point of order, but the constant arguing back from the Leader of the Nationals on something as simple as the relevance rule, where everybody in the room knows this ruling has been given before, is just absurd.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I try and do is: when people are on their feet and raising a point of order, I show them respect by listening carefully to what they say. I simply ask that the same be shown to me. The Prime Minister in continuation.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's lamb and mutton exports were worth $4.5 billion in 2022-23, they're escalating in places like the UK, and hopefully we'll have an announcement soon about an agreement with the UAE, whereas live sheep exports by sea were less than $77 million in that first year—less than 0.1 per cent of Australia's estimated agricultural production in that year. We're giving certainty to sheep producers and the supply chain by legislating the phase-out and investing—

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Look them in the eye!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'm going to ask everyone to remain silent for the remainder of this answer. The Prime Minister has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're giving certainty to sheep producers in the supply chain by legislating the phase-out. We're investing $107 million to support an orderly and well-planned transition away from what is an already declining trade. That is how you provide support for people. Those opposite know that this trade will not resume. They know that it's been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they are playing politics rather than delivering.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Look them in the eye!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals has submitted the MPI today. He may have forgotten about it, but I haven't. I assume he wants to debate the topic that he raised which he's making noise about, so he can do that after question time. He'll have that right, but that's only going to be extended if he ceases interjecting for the remainder of question time.