Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Faruqi. I'm on the record many times saying that the government is committed to implementing our election policy to phase out the live sheep export trade by sea, but we also intend to do it in an orderly manner. That's because we understand that this would be a big adjustment, particularly for sheep producers in Western Australia but also for many others in the supply chain. We're not going to do this in a rushed manner that doesn't take into consideration the needs of the people who are involved in that trade. But we are committed to implementing the policy. As you're probably aware, I have appointed a panel to consult on this matter, and I'm expecting their recommendations soon. Their recommendations will include something around the time frame over which this policy should be implemented, but I've made clear that we won't be phasing out the trade in this term of office, because we do think it needs to be done in an orderly manner. But, as I say, I'm waiting for the recommendations of that panel as to the time frame in which we would phase out that trade.