❓ Hon Ben Dawkins questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding representations made to the federal government about WA's live sheep export industry and animal welfare standards. The Minister confirms discussions with both the former and current federal agriculture ministers and reiterates the WA government's opposition to the live export ban.
AnsweredQoN 987Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LIVE EXPORT —
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY — MINISTERIAL REPRESENTATIONS
987. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
No notice of this
question has been given.
(1) In her recent
trip to see the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was
the minister able to confirm the WA Labor government's position that
the WA live sheep export industry is meeting the required animal welfare
standards, because the federal minister seems to be under the misapprehension
that it is not?
Hon Sue Ellery :
So clever.
Hon BEN
DAWKINS : Ha! Very clever. The question continues —
(2) Will the
minister update the house on the representations she made to the federal
agriculture minister on this issue, perhaps in a member's statement?
Hon Sue Ellery interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! The
Minister for Agriculture and Food.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY — MINISTERIAL REPRESENTATIONS
987. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
No notice of this
question has been given.
(1) In her recent
trip to see the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was
the minister able to confirm the WA Labor government's position that
the WA live sheep export industry is meeting the required animal welfare
standards, because the federal minister seems to be under the misapprehension
that it is not?
Hon Sue Ellery :
So clever.
Hon BEN
DAWKINS : Ha! Very clever. The question continues —
(2) Will the
minister update the house on the representations she made to the federal
agriculture minister on this issue, perhaps in a member's statement?
Hon Sue Ellery interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! The
Minister for Agriculture and Food.
AnswerView source ↗
(1) The member
referred to my trip to Canberra to meet with the federal Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It is worth noting that my trip to
Canberra was to meet the former federal agriculture minister, noting that we
had a change of agriculture ministers since my highly publicised trip to
Canberra to meet Minister Watt. Yes, I did indeed have a discussion with Minister
Watt about the concerns of the WA sheep industry, including that its members
felt they had met all the regulatory requirements set to them following the
issues around the Awassi Express in 2017. I continue to convey that. The
member's question relating to my
trip to Canberra was with, as I said, Minister Murray Watt. I have since had a number of discussions with the new agriculture minister. I am not sure whether the
member is aware that there was a portfolio shuffle at the federal level and
there is a new minister for agriculture.
Hon Neil Thomson interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Again,
I remind members to my left that it is your time that is being wasted.
Hon JACKIE JARVIS : I have
again conveyed the position. I thank the member for the opportunity to remind
members present that both the Premier and I have repeatedly said that we do not
support a ban on the live export of sheep. We
acknowledge, however, that the legislation has now passed federal Parliament.
It was a promise that the Labor Party took to the election, and it was
supported by the crossbench. I continue to advocate for Western Australian
sheep farmers. I certainly hope to receive further details of what a funding
support package might look like in my ongoing discussions with the new agriculture
minister.
(2) The member asked whether I would
provide a member's statement; no, I will not.
referred to my trip to Canberra to meet with the federal Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It is worth noting that my trip to
Canberra was to meet the former federal agriculture minister, noting that we
had a change of agriculture ministers since my highly publicised trip to
Canberra to meet Minister Watt. Yes, I did indeed have a discussion with Minister
Watt about the concerns of the WA sheep industry, including that its members
felt they had met all the regulatory requirements set to them following the
issues around the Awassi Express in 2017. I continue to convey that. The
member's question relating to my
trip to Canberra was with, as I said, Minister Murray Watt. I have since had a number of discussions with the new agriculture minister. I am not sure whether the
member is aware that there was a portfolio shuffle at the federal level and
there is a new minister for agriculture.
Hon Neil Thomson interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Again,
I remind members to my left that it is your time that is being wasted.
Hon JACKIE JARVIS : I have
again conveyed the position. I thank the member for the opportunity to remind
members present that both the Premier and I have repeatedly said that we do not
support a ban on the live export of sheep. We
acknowledge, however, that the legislation has now passed federal Parliament.
It was a promise that the Labor Party took to the election, and it was
supported by the crossbench. I continue to advocate for Western Australian
sheep farmers. I certainly hope to receive further details of what a funding
support package might look like in my ongoing discussions with the new agriculture
minister.
(2) The member asked whether I would
provide a member's statement; no, I will not.
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