The most invisible Federal agricultural minister to date, Murray Watt, has a spotlight firmly on his future intentions following a post-budget breakfast that hosted the National Farmers’ Federation and other industry representatives to grind down what was in store for agriculture.
But when Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt got to the part about banning live sheep exports forever, the mood quickly turned sour as farm industry body representatives staged an unprecedented walk-out before the end of the speech.
Copping a verbal spray from an angry New South Wales Farmers President Xavier Martin who told Minister Watt his decision to ban live sheep was “absolutely shameful” as he exited the 2024 Budget Breakfast.
Former Federal agricultural minister under the Morrison Liberal Nations coalition government and current Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the chaotic scenes were embarrassing and Labor’s own making, after Minister Watt has left the industry with no confidence in the Budget and committed to phasing out the live sheep export industry, destroying 3000 livelihoods in the process.
The Nationals leader David Littleproud went on to say he was dismayed that instead of listening to genuine concerns, Minister Watt joked about the topic, telling the audience, “just as well I didn’t talk about it earlier in the speech.”
And while Minister Watt doesn’t see any solution other than to shut down the industry. The Nationals leader David Littleproud had this to say, “Australia’s farmers are in despair and desperate for help but they are getting treated with contempt by an out-of-touch Labor Government and an Agriculture Minister who couldn’t give a rats about the industry.
“The walk-out this morning by our nation’s farmers – those who clothe and feed us – was an act of frustration and a reaction to a Government that won’t listen and doesn’t understand how agriculture works,” David Littleproud added.
Minister Watt announced Labor would phase out the live sheep export industry by 1 May 2028.
“Minister Watt didn’t even have the courage to fly to Western Australia and face farmers, instead announcing from a high-rise in Perth, it’s just a big ‘up yours’ to Western Australian farmers,” David Littleproud continued.
“The industry has never had the science explained to them as to why they are closing the live exports down. Compensation of just $64.6 million is an insult, especially when Meat and Livestock Australia figures show live sheep exports were 84,430 in December 2023, which was a 177% increase in comparison with November export (58,732) and a 44% increase on December 2022 exports (30,531).
“The legislation will be introduced in this term of Parliament, even though the industry embraced world leading animal welfare reforms in 2019, not only in transport but also the processing of sheep in the Middle East.”
The Nationals leader David Littleproud said this decision will see the needless death of thousands of sheep from around the world, as countries that take up this market from Australia do not meet our world leading animal welfare standards, which makes this decision perverse.
A 230-page independent panel report into the phase out was also released, after Labor hid it behind Cabinet-in-Confidence for more than six months and just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister Watt visited Beef2024 in Rockhampton QLD.
“Farmers don’t want compensation, they just want to continue to lead the world in animal welfare and work with an Agricultural Minister who will work with the industry, not against it. A future Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade,” David Littleproud confirmed.
