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

On Monday I met with a delegation of Moroccan government officials and importers who travelled to Western Australia following the recent signing of a new trade protocol. The signing between Australia and Morocco allows for the live export of Australian sheep, goats and cattle to the North African nation. This signing is a great step forward for sheep farmers, particularly in my electorate of O'Connor, who have been doing it tough following the appalling ban of live sheep exports by the Albanese government.

Given the significance of the signing, you would be hard pressed to find any mention of the deal by the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, or by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins. Instead, the announcement was made by the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, while the Albanese Government chose not to mention it. This Moroccan delegation was about strengthening the relationship between our two nations and, in particular, supporting Morocco's food security. Morocco is a country of 38 million people whose national sheep flock has been decimated by years of drought. The delegation sees the live export of sheep from Australia as being integral to the reliable supply of high-quality protein for their 38 million people.

As I met with the delegation I had a moment of clarity both as an MP and as a farmer that this is what it is all about. As an MP, it's my job to create relationships and opportunities for my constituents. In my electorate of O'Connor, the WA live sheep trade is vital to my regional communities—the farmers, the shearers, the stock agents and the livestock transporters. As a farmer, it's about growing food and feeding not only Australians but the world. If I and many other farmers can help feed some of the 38 million Moroccan people, then we should, and we should take great pride in it.

Those sitting opposite have claimed to be global leaders on issues critical to the world. When it comes to climate, they have not missed an opportunity to add a heavy burden to the Australian taxpayer in pursuit of being a global leader. When it comes to the fundamental job of putting food on the table for families not just here in Australia but around the world, this government has been found wanting. This government is choosing to deny the Moroccan people a source of safe, fresh, disease-free and stress-free sheepmeat from some of the best farmers in the world.

No sooner will we establish a new and trusted supply chain than those opposite will strip it away and cause irreparable damage to our international reputation. Those opposite will continue to argue that the live export ban doesn't come into effect until 2028 and farmers will have time to transition. That is both ill-informed and disrespectful to the sheep farmers and industry participants across the country. The President of WoolProducers Australia, Steve Harrison, said the wool industry was facing a crisis and the effects of the ban were already being felt across the country. Well-regarded agricultural market analyst Episode 3 has also warned of the drastic impact that this would have on the sector, yet the government chose to ignore it. The government has also ignored Sheep Producers Australia's advice on the role of the transition advocate. Instead of providing genuine support to the sector it is destroying, the transition advocate is merely a mouthpiece for bad government policy. Why does this government continue to ignore the very industry it says it's trying to help transition? Even last week, the government failed to let industry groups and farmers know about its supposed co-design consultations throughout my electorate of O'Connor. It is yet another example of the contempt this government has for Australia's farmers.

When I met with the Moroccan delegation, I was proud to inform them that a Dutton led government would overturn this nonsensical ban and assist their pursuit for food security. A Dutton led government will continue to export sheep to nations that cannot produce enough food to feed their own people. We look forward to growing trade with Morocco. We will export our quality Australian genetics and nutritious protein to provide food security for their country. We can do this at the same time as supporting Australian farmers and regional communities, as we were elected to do. I urge all Australians at the upcoming election to #keepthesheep.