Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

That is a very good question, and the Labor Party interjections tell us what the threat is—namely, the Labor Party. In fact, the biggest threat to the live export trade is the same as it was in 2011 when a senator opposite, who was then agriculture minister, implemented the ban on live cattle export to Indonesia, which destroyed the viability of Australia's northern cattle producers and dislocated our bilateral trade relationship with Indonesia.

A week ago, this former minister had the gall to criticise the government on the handling of the live export trade with Indonesia, accusing us of talking big but being found wanting. Incredibly, he claimed that as a former agriculture minister he understood more than most about the issue. This was most unfortunate timing for Senator Ludwig, as the very next day Indonesia announced plans to increase its third-quarter quota by 50,000 head. (Time expired)