Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

What I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by those on the other side is that this government is working diligently to ensure that the trade can be put back into place whilst maintaining appropriate animal welfare outcomes. Those on the other side are all at sea in relation to this point. They do not know whether they want animal welfare outcomes to be upheld or not. What they are arguing for is simply that the trade should resume immediately without taking into account animal welfare outcomes. Those on this side of the chamber want to ensure that we can do both.

I do understand the impacts that are being felt across the Northern Territory and Western Australia. And to that end we have written to Meat and Livestock Australia to ensure that they can provide $5 million worth of compensation for that industry and to provide onshore assistance for feed and watering. Those on the other side are adopting—