❓ Mr Rundle asks about the Dry Season Taskforce's relation to live sheep exports and financial support for farmers. The Premier avoids direct answers, welcomes a guest, discusses dry conditions, and accuses the opposition of political opportunism.
AnsweredQoN 242Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AGRICULTURE —
DRY SEASON TASKFORCE
242. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to a livestock farmer
located in Narrikup who said —
It's been a very teary day
for me. Started organising a neighbour to dig a pit big enough to put 3 000-plus
sheep in.
(1) Does the Premier stand by his comment in
Parliament yesterday that the Dry Season Taskforce has nothing to do
with the live sheep export industry?
(2) When will
farmers see financial support made available to assist with fodder, water and
freight?
DRY SEASON TASKFORCE
242. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to a livestock farmer
located in Narrikup who said —
It's been a very teary day
for me. Started organising a neighbour to dig a pit big enough to put 3 000-plus
sheep in.
(1) Does the Premier stand by his comment in
Parliament yesterday that the Dry Season Taskforce has nothing to do
with the live sheep export industry?
(2) When will
farmers see financial support made available to assist with fodder, water and
freight?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. Before I answer his question, can I personally
welcome Jeff Carr to the chamber? It is great to have a Labor legend amongst
us. It is terrific to see you.
We are suffering uncharacteristically
dry weather at the moment—the driest six months between October a nd March on record. That is throughout the
metropolitan area, the south west and the wheatbelt. Obviously , we are
doing everything we can to make sure that we understand the impact on farmers
and to ensure that w e have things in place
to assist them if that is required. I know that the taskforce will be meeting
later this week and will consider all
those things. It is important work it has been doing since September last year
to make sure that we have the best possible advice on appropriate support for
the farming communities . I think that is what the farming community is looking
for. They are looking for a government that understands the problem and can act and put measures in place to assist them, not an
opposition that simply seeks to turn this into some sort of political
exercise—some rank political opportunism to try to inveigle its other
campaign around the live sheep export industry. Obviously, this is distressing
for all farmers. In fact, Hon Jackie Jarvis in her comments in the media
acknowledged, in particular, the situation in which a farmer for a range of
reasons has to euthanase or put down some stock. It is heartbreaking stuff and
it puts them under particular mental health stress.
I note that the opposition was not
happy with that. Even though Hon Jackie Jarvis spoke about the impact on the
mental health of our farming communities of putting animals down, those
opposite then went out and said she was championing the idea of euthanising
animals. Disgraceful stuff! The opposition should sanction its shadow minister
for what he said. It is absolutely disgusting that he said that! We are
appalled on this side of the house by the efforts of the Nationals to try to
use this as some sort of political exercise—an exercise in populism
when we know that farmers are doing it tough and it is impacting on their
mental health. That is the reason we are acting, not playing party politics
with this tough issue.
thank the member for the question. Before I answer his question, can I personally
welcome Jeff Carr to the chamber? It is great to have a Labor legend amongst
us. It is terrific to see you.
We are suffering uncharacteristically
dry weather at the moment—the driest six months between October a nd March on record. That is throughout the
metropolitan area, the south west and the wheatbelt. Obviously , we are
doing everything we can to make sure that we understand the impact on farmers
and to ensure that w e have things in place
to assist them if that is required. I know that the taskforce will be meeting
later this week and will consider all
those things. It is important work it has been doing since September last year
to make sure that we have the best possible advice on appropriate support for
the farming communities . I think that is what the farming community is looking
for. They are looking for a government that understands the problem and can act and put measures in place to assist them, not an
opposition that simply seeks to turn this into some sort of political
exercise—some rank political opportunism to try to inveigle its other
campaign around the live sheep export industry. Obviously, this is distressing
for all farmers. In fact, Hon Jackie Jarvis in her comments in the media
acknowledged, in particular, the situation in which a farmer for a range of
reasons has to euthanase or put down some stock. It is heartbreaking stuff and
it puts them under particular mental health stress.
I note that the opposition was not
happy with that. Even though Hon Jackie Jarvis spoke about the impact on the
mental health of our farming communities of putting animals down, those
opposite then went out and said she was championing the idea of euthanising
animals. Disgraceful stuff! The opposition should sanction its shadow minister
for what he said. It is absolutely disgusting that he said that! We are
appalled on this side of the house by the efforts of the Nationals to try to
use this as some sort of political exercise—an exercise in populism
when we know that farmers are doing it tough and it is impacting on their
mental health. That is the reason we are acting, not playing party politics
with this tough issue.
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