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

BROCKMAN () (): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Today, we saw thousands of farmers and truckies rallying outside Parliament House, many of whom have travelled up to thousands of kilometres from Western Australia to stand up for their livelihoods, their communities and their families after the appalling decision of the Albanese government to abolish live sheep exports. Minister, why was the Prime Minister too gutless to face these farmers outside Parliament House and explain why he has legislated to destroy their livelihoods and a successful Australian export industry?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I'm going to ask for silence before I call the minister. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia is a democracy, and people can protest. People are entitled to come and put their views to our parliament and to do so respectfully. Protests of many shapes and sizes on different issues have been seen—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about facing up to them!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and have been part of our democracy for a very long time.

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

Order! Senator Ruston, I called for order. I reminded senators in this chamber that they need to listen in silence before I called the minister, and that includes you, Senator Ruston.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand the Prime Minister did meet with a delegation. I haven't spoken to him about it but I'm sure they put their views, and he would have put ours. And our views are—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The way you disrespected that lady—

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

Order! Senator Ruston, I believe that your scarf needs to be turned around so it can't be read, or it needs to be taken off.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

People in this democracy can disagree, but they should do so respectfully—something I might remind Senator Ruston about. The primary producers are a very important part of our economy and our community. I appreciate that people don't agree with the decision the government has made to honour an election commitment, but it was an election commitment. It was an election commitment that was taken to the Australian people on not one but two occasions, and we have sought to fulfil that, consistent with the pledges we made to the Australian people.

This was a trade that was already declining. This is a trade where we have given substantial notice of the phase-out and are seeking to assist with an orderly transition by investing $107 million into—

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

Senator Brockman, first supplementary?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to finish my answer. I was sitting down because Senator Ruston continues to interject.

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

There were 10 seconds left on the clock, and Senator Wong has indicated that she has not finished her contribution. Senator Wong, I invite you to continue for the next 10 seconds.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would make the point that this government has put a very substantial amount into assistance to try and manage an orderly transition and to ensure jobs are in Australia.

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

Senator Brockman, first supplementary?

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

Minister, latest figures show the flock size in Western Australia dropping by 27 per cent in one year, with industry experts predicting a 35 per cent decline in lamb numbers. Your government promised more processing in WA to replace live exports, but these numbers clearly show you are destroying the Western Australian sheep industry. Minister, for those outside the building who are fighting for their future and for the industry that they love, can you look them in the eye and tell them that the—

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

Thank you, Senator Brockman. The time for asking has expired.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy for the senator to finish, by leave.

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

Senator Brockman, please finish.

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

Can you tell them that the processors won't also close on the back of declining sheep numbers?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I make a few points about the size and trajectory of this industry? In 2014-15, 2.1 million sheep were exported by sea at a value of $224 million. In 2021-22, 475,000 sheep were exported by sea at a value of $80 million. Over the decade that the Liberals and Nationals were in government, live exports decreased by $144 million and over 1.5 million head. So let's remember that when those opposite were in government we saw a reduction in this trade by value and a very substantial reduction by head. I do respect that this is a difficult transition for those families and producers who have been in this trade for a long time, but this is a trade that has been, under you, in decline. (Time expired)

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

Senator Brockman, second supplementary?

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

The Albanese government has banned the successful live sheep export sector, blocked job-creating mining projects, created chaos in the construction sector and driven up electricity prices for all Australians. Why is the Albanese government prioritising implementation of the extreme policies of their friends and allies the Australian Greens and not delivering what's best for Australians?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! Senator Watt and Senator McKenzie, that applies to both of you.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would invite the senator to look at the work we did to reopen China as an export market for our barley exporters. I would ask the senator to consider—and I would say to the sector—that we have had live cattle exports grow by 54 per cent and exports of beef to Indonesia hit a record high in 2022-23. I would remind those opposite that we have seen, under the work this government has done, increases in the exports of wine. We have seen some $20 billion of impediments that were in place under you when we came to government, which primarily affected some of the sectors that were included in your question, and seen that the trade impediments have been removed from all of those sectors other than $1 billion worth as at the time of those impediments being imposed. So we have been doing work to— (Time expired)