Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The time for delay is over. It is time to get on with delivering this important commitment, one that I note is backed by the majority of Australians. The Albanese government went to the last two elections with a promise to phase out the live export of sheep by sea. We have consulted and worked with communities right around the country on how to best deliver a considered and orderly transition. We've been very clear with Australian farmers, meat processors and communities about our intention to fulfil this commitment.

Last year, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry appointed an independent panel to consult with stakeholders to seek advice on how and when the government should phase out the export of live sheep by sea. I've had many meetings with stakeholders over many years now, and you have been misleading people, time and time again, about how and when we need to get this done. Panel members were selected on their diverse sets of skills and experience, in agriculture, public admin, economics and animal welfare. From March to October the panel met with 2,000 people, received more than 4,100 submissions and survey responses and held 80 virtual and face-to-face meetings with industry and stakeholders. The panel recommended that the trade end on 1 May in 2028, that the date be legislated so that farmers and communities can plan with certainty, and that transition support be made available by government. We've considered the transition plan and its recommendations: four years for farmers and communities to prepare, backed up by a really big investment of taxpayers' money to work with communities to get this done. In addition to the panel's work, we know that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture held two public hearings this month and had 13,000 contributions from individuals, organisations and stakeholders.

I know the reason you want to go to an inquiry on this: it's because you're going to vote against it. We already know that. You are not intent on working with the government to implement this policy; you only want to run interference for your own political gain. The lower house inquiry has received 6,700 form letters and campaign emails in support of this bill. There were some 1,100 that weren't in favour. I might add that, over the years, I've received more than 12,000 emails, not from interstate but from Western Australians, in support of ending— (Time expired)