❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Premier about the lack of support for sheep producers facing falling prices due to the looming live export ban. The Premier acknowledges the industry's challenges and highlights government support through DPIRD.
AnsweredQoN 747Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Live Export — Federal
Government Policy — MEAT INDUSTRY CONFIDENCE
747. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge
Steven Bolt, a director of the Livestock Collective, who is in the gallery.
I refer to recent calls by the
Nationals WA and the Liberal Party for crisis talks between the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development and sheep producers, buyers and
processors about the loss of confidence and falling sheep prices due to Labor's
looming live export ban. Given the recent reports of producers giving up —
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I am
taking a point of order.
Point of Order
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I draw your
attention, Madam Speaker, to standing order 77(1), which, in part, states that
a question shall not contain an opinion. The member has just included an opinion
about the price of lamb, and that would seem to be directly contrary to the
standing orders.
The SPEAKER : I will give the
member for Roe the opportunity to ask the question. That standing order is
correct. There have probably been numerous questions over a period of years
that have contained opinions. The member is right in saying that that is in our
standing orders. I have shown leniency, as have some former Speakers. I will
listen very intently to the rest of the question but, at this stage, I am going
to allow it on this occasion.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : Thank you,
Madam Speaker.
Given the recent reports of
producers giving away up to 600 sheep and pens of sheep at the saleyards being
of no commercial value, I ask —
(1) Will the
Premier instruct the Minister for Agriculture and Food to front up and hold
talks with producers, rather than passing them off to the DPIRD website?
(2) What does the
Premier say to those in the industry, such as Mr Bolt, who are bitterly
disappointed with the lack of support and leadership shown by him and his
agriculture minister?
Government Policy — MEAT INDUSTRY CONFIDENCE
747. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge
Steven Bolt, a director of the Livestock Collective, who is in the gallery.
I refer to recent calls by the
Nationals WA and the Liberal Party for crisis talks between the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development and sheep producers, buyers and
processors about the loss of confidence and falling sheep prices due to Labor's
looming live export ban. Given the recent reports of producers giving up —
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I am
taking a point of order.
Point of Order
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I draw your
attention, Madam Speaker, to standing order 77(1), which, in part, states that
a question shall not contain an opinion. The member has just included an opinion
about the price of lamb, and that would seem to be directly contrary to the
standing orders.
The SPEAKER : I will give the
member for Roe the opportunity to ask the question. That standing order is
correct. There have probably been numerous questions over a period of years
that have contained opinions. The member is right in saying that that is in our
standing orders. I have shown leniency, as have some former Speakers. I will
listen very intently to the rest of the question but, at this stage, I am going
to allow it on this occasion.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : Thank you,
Madam Speaker.
Given the recent reports of
producers giving away up to 600 sheep and pens of sheep at the saleyards being
of no commercial value, I ask —
(1) Will the
Premier instruct the Minister for Agriculture and Food to front up and hold
talks with producers, rather than passing them off to the DPIRD website?
(2) What does the
Premier say to those in the industry, such as Mr Bolt, who are bitterly
disappointed with the lack of support and leadership shown by him and his
agriculture minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. I acknowledge all our primary producers in Western
Australia, who, from time to time, do it tough because of the nature of the
industry they work in and the climate, which is rapidly changing and impacts on
their businesses. I appreciate that it is a difficult time for our sheep
producers. The WA market price for sheep peaked in 2019 and 2021 due to demand over
east as a result of the devastating
droughts. Since then, there has been a decline across Australia from the strong
prices seen for lamb in recent years. The most recent price drop
occurred due to Victorian sheep producers rapidly destocking as a result of the
El Nino weather prediction for the east coast and the potential for drought. I read
just yesterday an article in The Sydney Morning Herald about the impact
of the drop in sheep prices in New South Wales. I observe that neither Victoria
nor New South Wales undertake any live sheep exports—that is almost
solely done from Western Australia.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : The poor
seasonal conditions, particularly in the north and north east wheatbelt, have
further impacted farmers. Despite this, live sheep export numbers from Western Australia
in 2022–23 were considerably higher than in the previous two years.
DPIRD continues to work closely with all sectors of the rural community and is focusing on distributing information to
industry, with a primary focus on mental health, land condition and animal
welfare. DPIRD recently stood-up its dry season taskforce and is engaging with
the Water Corporation to ensure that it plans for the drier-than-average,
long-term forecasts ahead. The Minister for Agriculture and Food and DPIRD
recently met with key industry leaders to help prepare for emerging issues
facing the state's agriculture and livestock sectors.
A
range of issues impact our primary industries at all times. What we need is an
agriculture minister who is engaged , working with the industry and
making sure that we utilise the services of our department to support that industry
as we move forward, and that is exactly what we are doing.
thank the member for the question. I acknowledge all our primary producers in Western
Australia, who, from time to time, do it tough because of the nature of the
industry they work in and the climate, which is rapidly changing and impacts on
their businesses. I appreciate that it is a difficult time for our sheep
producers. The WA market price for sheep peaked in 2019 and 2021 due to demand over
east as a result of the devastating
droughts. Since then, there has been a decline across Australia from the strong
prices seen for lamb in recent years. The most recent price drop
occurred due to Victorian sheep producers rapidly destocking as a result of the
El Nino weather prediction for the east coast and the potential for drought. I read
just yesterday an article in The Sydney Morning Herald about the impact
of the drop in sheep prices in New South Wales. I observe that neither Victoria
nor New South Wales undertake any live sheep exports—that is almost
solely done from Western Australia.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : The poor
seasonal conditions, particularly in the north and north east wheatbelt, have
further impacted farmers. Despite this, live sheep export numbers from Western Australia
in 2022–23 were considerably higher than in the previous two years.
DPIRD continues to work closely with all sectors of the rural community and is focusing on distributing information to
industry, with a primary focus on mental health, land condition and animal
welfare. DPIRD recently stood-up its dry season taskforce and is engaging with
the Water Corporation to ensure that it plans for the drier-than-average,
long-term forecasts ahead. The Minister for Agriculture and Food and DPIRD
recently met with key industry leaders to help prepare for emerging issues
facing the state's agriculture and livestock sectors.
A
range of issues impact our primary industries at all times. What we need is an
agriculture minister who is engaged , working with the industry and
making sure that we utilise the services of our department to support that industry
as we move forward, and that is exactly what we are doing.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.