❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Premier about the state government's relationship with the federal government regarding the live sheep export ban and the adequacy of support for affected farmers. The Premier acknowledges the concerns and outlines the state's plan to support the industry's transition.
AnsweredQoN 348Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIVE EXPORT —
SHEEP INDUSTRY
348. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
On behalf of the opposition, I congratulate
our new Clerk; well done.
Mr R.H. Cook : I think I forgot
to do that!
Ms R. Saffioti : Trying to
curry favour!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : First, let us be
clear: there is no fear or favour!
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : My question
is to the Premier. Yesterday, at the National Press Club in Canberra, the
federal Labor agriculture minister jokingly remarked about the closure of the
live sheep industry, acknowledging the mass exodus of farmers from the audience
with the quip, ''Just as well I didn't talk about it earlier in
the speech!''
In
light of the Minister for Agriculture and Food's criticism of the
federal government's decision, which has resulted in only $64.6 million
of the federal package reaching sheep farmers and the supply chain, is this yet
another indication of a deteriorating relationship between the state government
and the federal Labor government?
SHEEP INDUSTRY
348. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
On behalf of the opposition, I congratulate
our new Clerk; well done.
Mr R.H. Cook : I think I forgot
to do that!
Ms R. Saffioti : Trying to
curry favour!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : First, let us be
clear: there is no fear or favour!
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : My question
is to the Premier. Yesterday, at the National Press Club in Canberra, the
federal Labor agriculture minister jokingly remarked about the closure of the
live sheep industry, acknowledging the mass exodus of farmers from the audience
with the quip, ''Just as well I didn't talk about it earlier in
the speech!''
In
light of the Minister for Agriculture and Food's criticism of the
federal government's decision, which has resulted in only $64.6 million
of the federal package reaching sheep farmers and the supply chain, is this yet
another indication of a deteriorating relationship between the state government
and the federal Labor government?
AnswerView source ↗
I
place on the record my congratulations to Scott Nalder, the new Clerk—just
in case! Well done, sir. Congratulations; it is well deserved.
I also place on the record my thanks
to Hon Jackie Jarvis for the work she is doing to advocate on behalf of the farming industry and her stakeholders. Members
would know that she has been forthright in her championing of live sheep
exports, and I think she has done a great job in communicating that to the
federal government. Minister Murray Watt is obviously sensitive to these issues
because he understands that we disagree with the decision that he has taken.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : The federal
government has made its decision and it is now our responsibility to make sure
that we work with it to ensure that the supports for farmers, as part of this
transition, are in place and we continue to make sure that farmers are
supported in that process. The federal government announced a $107 million
package, which is obviously an important opportunity to start that process.
However, as Murray Watt has communicated, these arrangements will not take
effect until 1 May 2028, so there is plenty of time to work through the issues,
to understand and assess the needs and the impacts, and to understand what
needs to be put in place so that we can better equip the industry to adapt to
these changes. It will be an important opportunity to add value to our export
product and understand how we can continue to improve the capability of our
meat processing industry to ensure we still have a strong export supply chain
that meets the needs of our overseas markets. They are switching to cold
packaged meat in droves. For instance, we know that Kuwait was a very important
market for us for live sheep exports just a few short years ago. The value of
the overall live sheep industry fell from $415 million in 2003–04 down
to just $77 million in 2023. Last year, Kuwait imported $65.9 million of meat
compared with just $35 million of live sheep imports, so we know that there is
a great opportunity for WA farmers here.
The key to our response at this
stage is to make sure that we support our industry and ensure that it can
transition to the new arrangements, which will not take hold until May 2028.
place on the record my congratulations to Scott Nalder, the new Clerk—just
in case! Well done, sir. Congratulations; it is well deserved.
I also place on the record my thanks
to Hon Jackie Jarvis for the work she is doing to advocate on behalf of the farming industry and her stakeholders. Members
would know that she has been forthright in her championing of live sheep
exports, and I think she has done a great job in communicating that to the
federal government. Minister Murray Watt is obviously sensitive to these issues
because he understands that we disagree with the decision that he has taken.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : The federal
government has made its decision and it is now our responsibility to make sure
that we work with it to ensure that the supports for farmers, as part of this
transition, are in place and we continue to make sure that farmers are
supported in that process. The federal government announced a $107 million
package, which is obviously an important opportunity to start that process.
However, as Murray Watt has communicated, these arrangements will not take
effect until 1 May 2028, so there is plenty of time to work through the issues,
to understand and assess the needs and the impacts, and to understand what
needs to be put in place so that we can better equip the industry to adapt to
these changes. It will be an important opportunity to add value to our export
product and understand how we can continue to improve the capability of our
meat processing industry to ensure we still have a strong export supply chain
that meets the needs of our overseas markets. They are switching to cold
packaged meat in droves. For instance, we know that Kuwait was a very important
market for us for live sheep exports just a few short years ago. The value of
the overall live sheep industry fell from $415 million in 2003–04 down
to just $77 million in 2023. Last year, Kuwait imported $65.9 million of meat
compared with just $35 million of live sheep imports, so we know that there is
a great opportunity for WA farmers here.
The key to our response at this
stage is to make sure that we support our industry and ensure that it can
transition to the new arrangements, which will not take hold until May 2028.
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