Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Watt. Your government has a policy position to ban the live export in sheep. In June 2022 you said:

… there are some real opportunities to expand sheep processing and expand exports of chilled frozen meat, including sheep.

Getting boxed lamb into the Middle East in a bagged carcass market relies heavily on passenger flights out of Perth. Minister, how will your government expand chilled meat exports to the Middle East if you won't approve additional passenger flights from Perth to the Middle East?

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

Thank you, Senator Brockman. I'm glad that, at last, someone from the opposition has asked a question about agriculture in question time. I think February was the last time anyone in the opposition asked a question about agriculture.

An honourable senator: But not the National Party.

Not the National party. So well done to the Liberal Party for taking an interest in agriculture. Senator Brockman, I know this is an issue you have a deep interest in. As you are probably aware, I met today and yesterday with delegations of sheep producers from Western Australia, which I think probably takes to well over a dozen now the number of times that I've met with representatives of the sheep industry, the export industry and all other parts of the supply chain. As I've said from the very first time I met with those representatives, about three weeks after the election, we will be delivering our election commitment, but we will be doing it in an orderly way, based on advice from the independent panel that I appointed to provide advice and recommendations on how and over what time frame that transition should occur.

I know, having met with the panel again recently, which no-one over there has done, that these are matters that the panel is giving consideration to. The panel is giving consideration to these very issues. The panel is giving consideration to how this policy should be implemented.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, the question is actually about the minister's statements in regard to the export of carcass meat to the Middle East. He's been going for 90 seconds and has not mentioned that at all. I'd ask you to draw him to the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the point of order, I think that not only is the minister doing a very good job in the agriculture portfolio; he's precisely answering the question that you—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, you called a point of order in good faith and then you went to a debating point. In relation to your point of order, Senator Canavan, there was a preamble to the question that did mention banning the live sheep trade. I will listen to the response from the minister and, if necessary, direct him to the last part of Senator Brockman's question.

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

As I was saying, the matters that Senator Brockman is talking about regarding the potential for more processing onshore and what would be needed to make that a reality, including air transportation, are exactly the issues, among others, that the panel is looking at, and they will be providing recommendations to me.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hughes!

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

It's interesting that the opposition is taking an interest in the live sheep export industry, given that industry declined by about 70 per cent when the coalition were in power. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hughes, once again, I called you to order and you kept interjecting. I am asking you to reflect on your own behaviour. When you are called to order, come to order. Senator Brockman, a first supplementary?

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

() (): Minister, as you noted, in the gallery today there is, in fact, a delegation from the Western Australian agricultural industry, which is already being hurt by your government's decision to end Australia's live sheep trade. Producers are already seeing lower prices. Confidence has plummeted. Sheep producer Charles Wass recently sold a flock of ewes for $20 a head, leaving him a $10 margin. He would normally need $80 to keep his business viable. Minister, why is this government insisting on shutting down this industry? (Time expired)

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

I have said in every single meeting that I've had with representatives of sheep producers and the whole sheep industry supply chain in Western Australia that this is a policy that the government took to an election not just once but twice. We didn't win the election the first time we took this policy to an election, but we did the second time. I think it's important that governments keep their promises, and that's what we're doing. What you are asking us to do is to break an election commitment, and we're not going to do that.

The question was: why are we doing this? That is why we are doing this; we are implementing an election commitment that we were voted in to deliver, and that's what we're doing. But we are going to do it in an orderly way, in consultation with the industry. I look forward to receiving the panel's recommendation about how and in what way we should implement this policy.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brockman, a second supplementary?

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, considering Premier Cook has now come out against your government's decision to protect Qantas's profits at the expense of Australian farmers wanting to sell their sheep, will you fight for the sheep farmers in Wagin, Cranbrook, Kojonup, Katanning, Beverley, Williams and Darkan, or will you turn your back on them again?

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

As I say, this government takes its election commitments seriously, and that's what we're doing; we're implementing that commitment. Senator Brockman, I assume that you've also been honest with those sheep producers about the fact that the number of live sheep exported from Western Australia fell by 70 per cent when the coalition was in power. I assume you've pointed that out to them. I assume you've pointed out the comments that your Liberal Party deputy leader, Sussan Ley, has made about this. And I assume that you've pointed out the comments that Senator Henderson has made. I recall she labelled the live sheep export trade as 'inhumane', which are comments that I've never made about that industry. I assume that you've presented a balanced opinion on these matters.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Minister Watt, please continue.

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

Senator Brockman, as I say, I hope you've pointed out the comments from Senator Henderson when you were in government. She said:

… the sensible path is for both sides of the debate to construct a carefully considered transition to ending the trade permanently …

…   …   …

… what we both believe is an inevitable and permanent ceasing of all live sheep exports to the Middle East.

That's what the Senator Henderson said. (Time expired)