Mr. Love questions the Premier's ability to defend WA industries against the Federal Government's live export ban, criticising the adequacy of the support package. The Premier defends the WA government's lobbying efforts but acknowledges the package is insufficient.

AnsweredQoN 302Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 May 2024
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

LIVE EXPORT—
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY
302. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
Canberra colleagues providing a dismal $107 million package to Western Australian
sheep farmers who will have their industry
shut down thanks to a preference deal done with the Animal Justice Party. Given that he has failed here to do what is right for Western Australian sheep
farmers, how can other Western Australian industries be confident that he is
capable of standing up to Canberra?

AnswerView source ↗

This is well-trodden territory. It
is obviously important that we understand the Western Australian government's
position on this, which is that we stood up for the farmers and sheep farmers
of Western Australia through our lobbying of the commonwealth government to
provide adequate supports to the farming industry in the event that it decides
to undertake the closure of the industry, which will take place sometime in
2028. We pointed out that this closure will have a hit of about $132 million to
the farming industry, with the loss of about 400 jobs. We also emphasised the
importance of our animal welfare arrangements, which were adequately providing
for the industry. It is obviously disappointing that the government has
implemented the outcome of the advisory panel in relation to the closure of
live animal exports. We are at least pleased that the industry now has
certainty that it can plan against, and that
the government has provided a $107 million package. As I said, I do not believe
that is good enough . I do not believe that $107 million is adequate to
undertake the appropriate transitions and supports that are needed as part of
that transition, and we will continue to make that clear.

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