Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This must be the first time that I've heard anyone from the coalition accept the position of the Animal Justice Party. Honestly! The Labor Party went to the last two elections, as Senator Watt said, with a strong commitment to phase out live sheep exports by sea. That's what we said in 2019 and 2022. Those were our commitments.

I know it's hard for those on that side to accept that we follow through with our commitments. When we make a commitment, on we go with it. We work through a process and we deliver our commitments. That's what we do. We tell the Australian people—as hard as some things are to tell people, we tell them what we're going to do and then we follow through, and we talk to people; we do a lot of discussions. We are now delivering on that commitment to the Australian people, and we're providing certainty to farmers and to communities that rely on the trade.

We know that the export of live sheep by sea will end on 1 May 2028, with legislation enacting the phase-out to be introduced in this term of parliament. In this term of parliament, we will introduce that. We've committed, as those opposite know, $107 million to assist the sheep industry with that transition. We recognise that people need help, with transition from live export, to take advantage of the increased demand for Australian sheepmeat right around the world. We have world renowned sheepmeat that can be better delivered by having local jobs here. That's what this means. This means that we will deliver local jobs here. Isn't that what we all are here for? I would have hoped so but, clearly, not on that side.

We've always promised a considered and orderly transition. This announcement and the government's package strikes the right balance. It's based on extensive industry and community consultation, and we heard Minister Watt talk about the level of consultation that he has had. Irrespective of what they say on the other side, he is a minister that gets out there and gets his feet dirty, gets dirt on his boots and gets out there and talks to people. He talks to farmers, he talks to the lobby groups, he talks to everyone. He is a very good minister, and that's what he's done. He told us that, and I believe him because that's the way that he works.

We're providing early support to affected sheep farmers, supply chain businesses and communities, particularly in WA. We want to ensure that those affected by the phase-out can build resilience and establish a strong position in advance of the trade ending. That's part of the commitment, to make sure that we assist those people. We are delivering on that.

We also need to think about better sheep welfare outcomes. Phasing out live sheep exports by sea makes another step forward for sheep welfare, and it reflects our nation's values of compassion and the ethical treatment of animals. The package includes $2.6 million to continue to improve sheep welfare standards, to meet community expectations, and for Australia to enhance its engagement in the World Organisation for Animal Health. So this is not just one focus, which is what those on the other side would like you to think about. This is a multifaceted approach that we are taking to phase out an industry that we went to an election on in 2019. We went to the election with that commitment. We went to the election in 2022, which was the election that we won—I know it's hard for those opposite to accept that, but we did—and we are now following through with those commitments. There is every reason to feel optimistic about the future of Australia's sheep industry and those associated with the sector.

The sheepmeat industry is booming, and it has a bright future ahead. Our package will help it to continue to grow. It will create more local jobs. That is what we're about—creating local jobs right here in Australia and particularly in the regions; that's where a lot of these jobs will be created and Aussie sheep products will be grown. But it is not only about growing; it's about value-adding. That's what we want to do here. We want to bring back all those industries that those opposite pushed off our shores and value-add right here in Australia, and provide good, well-paid jobs for Australians to provide security for them and their families into the future.