❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about the impact of a potential live sheep export ban on WA's economy, citing negative sentiment among sheep producers. The Premier refutes claims of a ban and highlights government support for the industry.
AnsweredQoN 416Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIVE EXPORT — MEAT INDUSTRY CONFIDENCE
416. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
refer to two recent and separate surveys measuring sheep and meat industry
sentiment, one conducted by Rabobank and the other by Australian Wool
Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia, showing a staggering 90 per cent
drop in sentiment among WA sheep producers, and WA as the only state to have a negative
outlook for the coming 12 months.
(1) Has the Premier been briefed on
these alarming figures by his Minister for Agriculture and Food?
(2) Has the
government done an economic impact assessment in relation to the impact of the
federal Labor government's flawed decision to ban live sheep export on
our state economy; and, if not, why not?
416. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
refer to two recent and separate surveys measuring sheep and meat industry
sentiment, one conducted by Rabobank and the other by Australian Wool
Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia, showing a staggering 90 per cent
drop in sentiment among WA sheep producers, and WA as the only state to have a negative
outlook for the coming 12 months.
(1) Has the Premier been briefed on
these alarming figures by his Minister for Agriculture and Food?
(2) Has the
government done an economic impact assessment in relation to the impact of the
federal Labor government's flawed decision to ban live sheep export on
our state economy; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Once
again, we see from the opposition misrepresentations, mistruths and attempts to
distract and, quite frankly, mislead the Western Australian public. We have not
banned live sheep export; in fact, we have worked purposefully with the
commonwealth government to make sure that we can continue to promote live sheep export by combining with the government
in 2019 around the measures that were protecting live sheep welfare and
ensuring that we could see those products continue into the future, which, as I
said in my previous answer, is a reason we continue to see a growth in the
number of live sheep exported internationally from Western Australia. We will
continue to make sure that we stand by this industry in this context.
I think the member was trying to
suggest that there is somehow some fear or lack of confidence in the industry
going forward. That simply does not stand up to the evidence that shows that
companies like Minerva Foods, a very large international meat processing firm,
are buying up abattoirs and other key industry elements, because they see the
success of this industry and have great confidence in its future. We will
continue to ensure that we stand by the industry as the Minister for
Agriculture and Food has been doing over the last 12 months to make sure that
we can protect this industry in a manner that is about capturing the long-term
future of the industry. This is important for Western Australia. That is the
reason we have not been backward in our advocacy of the industry. I stress that
this panel is currently undertaking a review of this, consistent with the
commitments that the Albanese Labor team made to the Australian electorate, and
it is carrying that out. As it said, it will not make any decisions in this
term of Parliament, which is welcome. That means we can continue to make sure
that we work with the federal —
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : We will
continue to work with the federal government, as we did with the previous
federal government, to ensure that the interests of Western Australian farmers
are put forward.
again, we see from the opposition misrepresentations, mistruths and attempts to
distract and, quite frankly, mislead the Western Australian public. We have not
banned live sheep export; in fact, we have worked purposefully with the
commonwealth government to make sure that we can continue to promote live sheep export by combining with the government
in 2019 around the measures that were protecting live sheep welfare and
ensuring that we could see those products continue into the future, which, as I
said in my previous answer, is a reason we continue to see a growth in the
number of live sheep exported internationally from Western Australia. We will
continue to make sure that we stand by this industry in this context.
I think the member was trying to
suggest that there is somehow some fear or lack of confidence in the industry
going forward. That simply does not stand up to the evidence that shows that
companies like Minerva Foods, a very large international meat processing firm,
are buying up abattoirs and other key industry elements, because they see the
success of this industry and have great confidence in its future. We will
continue to ensure that we stand by the industry as the Minister for
Agriculture and Food has been doing over the last 12 months to make sure that
we can protect this industry in a manner that is about capturing the long-term
future of the industry. This is important for Western Australia. That is the
reason we have not been backward in our advocacy of the industry. I stress that
this panel is currently undertaking a review of this, consistent with the
commitments that the Albanese Labor team made to the Australian electorate, and
it is carrying that out. As it said, it will not make any decisions in this
term of Parliament, which is welcome. That means we can continue to make sure
that we work with the federal —
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : We will
continue to work with the federal government, as we did with the previous
federal government, to ensure that the interests of Western Australian farmers
are put forward.
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