News

More pain ahead for Western Australian sheep farmers?

The Australian Livestock Exporters Council said today that the announcement of the new Minister for Agriculture was an opportunity for the incoming minister, Julie Collins MP to take fresh eyes to the agriculture portfolio and reset the relationship with the sector.

CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton said that despite “shuffling the deck chairs”, it was clear that the current government had so far deliberately treated WA farmers with contempt by prioritising politics over evidence and tacitly endorsing activists working against the sector.

“The last Minister’s shameful ban of live WA sheep exports will leave a difficult legacy for the new Minister, as the entire agriculture sector is united in fighting against this unjust ban.”

“While Minister Watt packs up his desk and moves over to his new office ready for a fresh start, he leaves WA farmers packing up their businesses with no such opportunity. WA sheep farmers and their rural communities have been decimated by the Albanese Government live sheep ban.”

“Normally we’d be writing that we look forward to the opportunity to work with a new Minister and welcoming them to the job. While we are hopeful they will surprise us with their support for the sector, we are sceptical that anything will change and we will continue to have a government that, from the top down, is actively working against us.”

“We will commit to coming to the table with an open mind. We hope the new Minister can as well, otherwise WA farmers can expect more of the same.”

MEDIA

0491 276 036   media@livexcouncil.com.au