Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Senate, Minister McCarthy. Over the winter break, I visited regional sheep farms and spoke to sheep farmers who have grave concerns about the live sheep export phase-out package. One of those sheep farmers was Judith, from Wandering shire, who stressed to me the lack of support from the government to outline exactly what comes after the end of live sheep export. These are towns of generational sheep farmers that rely solely on this industry, and now they are being asked to transition out of it with no detail on what's to come next. Judith asked me, 'Transition to what?'

We have transition packages for coal mining communities, where it's detailed exactly what they are transitioning to, but that is not the case in this package. So, on behalf of Judith and all WA sheep farmers and communities, I ask the minister: transition to what?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Payman for her question. Certainly, ending live sheep export by sea marks a considerable step forward for animal welfare, and capitalises on onshore opportunities in sheepmeat processing. Senator Payman—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously the other side are not interested to know. They obviously don't care about the farmers in Western Australia. We are supporting—

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, you know that's not true.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why do you hate the farmers?

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

Minister, please resume your seat. Order!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! I remind the opposition there is plenty of opportunity for you to ask similar questions. This question has been asked by Senator Payman.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Maybe Minister Collins will have the guts.

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

Senator McKenzie particularly.

Order! Senator Brockman.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We want the silence of the lambs over there!

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

Senator Ayres. Order!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Order across the chamber.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! I should not have had to stand up. I called order at least seven times. I remind the opposition there is plenty of opportunity for you to ask similar questions. This question is being asked by a senator who has limited opportunity to ask questions during the week, and I ask every senator in here to listen in respectful silence. Please continue, Senator McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. Senator Payman, we've obviously now legislated that trade will end on 1 May 2028. The $107 million transition support package, which you are asking about—and I know you're interested to know—will provide the opportunity for individuals, communities and businesses to be resilient, well-positioned and ready when the trade ends. We're certainly working with the WA government to rollout that support, and the transition plan includes implementation based on independent advice; the provision of certainty, time and support for the transition; ongoing management of, and measures to, enhance sheep welfare; and transition oversight and continued engagement with domestic stakeholders and trading partners. With this certainty and a four-year lead time, affected producers can make decisions appropriate to their circumstances.

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

Senator Payman, a first supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the agriculture minister commit to putting more money on the table and extending the transition time from four years to 10 years, as recommended by the independent inquiry, to help our farmers transition to new industry?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The $107 million investment is a substantial investment in terms of the transition.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, Senator Payman—and if those opposite want to hear—that is the most that we've been able to put given the decline from others across the chamber in terms of support for the industry.

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

Senator Payman, a second supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But that roughly equates to $25 million a year. In comparison, upgrading the fencing for a farm costs about $2 million. In the grand scheme of things, more needs to be done. My second supplementary question—

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

Senator McKenzie, you are out of line. You completely drowned out the senator who has got the legitimate right to ask the question. You completely drowned her out. Please reset the clock. Senator Payman, please begin your question again.

Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Will the minister for agriculture meet with WA sheep farmers when cabinet visits WA in September?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for your question. Clearly, the minister, like me, has just started in her portfolio. I have every confidence that she is reaching out right across the country in her portfolio area, and will no doubt do the same in Western Australia.