Hon Steve Martin asks the Minister for Agriculture and Food about WA sheep number forecasts and the potential impact of the federal live sheep export ban. The Minister acknowledges challenges facing the industry but doesn't provide specific forecasts.

AnsweredQoN 278Legislative Council
Asked
16 April 2024
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

WOOL PRODUCTION — FORECASTS
278. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to WA wool production
forecasts.
(1) Has the minister received the
forecast for WA sheep numbers for the following seasons —
(a) 2024–2025; and
(b) 2025–2026?
(2) Can the minister please provide
those forecasts?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) Does the
minister acknowledge federal Labor's policy to ban the export of live
sheep is at least partly responsible for the fall in numbers?
(5) Should
forecasts project a loss in sheep numbers, what economic modelling has been
done to assess the impact on the industry?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) No.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The WA sheep
industry is facing a range of challenges, including a very dry season,
increased interstate transfers, reduced joining rates and an anecdotal
reduction in conception rates.
(5) The
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will consider any
actions, including economic modelling, once the Australian Wool Production
Forecasting Committee releases its final report on forecast sheep numbers.

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