Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

Our country's live exporters have no greater friend than this Liberal-National government. The government sympathises with the sentiment behind this motion. Labor's decision to ban the live export trade caused enormous and unwarranted damage to the industry and individuals. The industry needs and deserves stability and predictability. The Federal Court's decision in the Brett Cattle Company case was handed down on Tuesday 2 June 2020. No decision on the future of the litigation will be made until sometime after the scheduled court hearing to make final orders in the matter, including orders for damages. That hearing is set down for 29 June 2020. Given the risk that this decision could actually establish a precedent that could be weaponised against the live export industry, the responsible course of action is for the government to seek further advice before making determinations with respect to the future of this litigation.