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ALEC cautions political parties over a deal with the Teals

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council has cautioned candidates not to use live exports as a ‘bargaining chip’ should the looming Federal election result in a hung parliament and expressed doubt on where the Teals would stand on the issue.

Mark Harvey-Sutton, CEO said that the treatment of farmers in Western Australia should serve as a warning for the sting that was in the Teals’ tail.

“Farmers in WA and across Australia watched on in dismay in July last year when the Teals not only enthusiastically cheered on Albanes’s live sheep ban, but also during the debate on the bill, many of the Teals also called for live cattle exports to be included too,”

“Given bans on live exports mostly affects rural and regional areas, and not the Teals’ inner city seats, it should serve as a warning how quickly they are willing to sacrifice the regions that drive Australia’s economy for their desire to remain in Parliament,”

Labor MPs have been at great pains to say they would never ban the live cattle industry (despite arbitrarily shutting it down in 2011), but it remains to be seen if it will be on the table during a hung parliament negotiation.

“The Teals were quick to call for the end of the Australia’s multi-million dollar live cattle trade during the debate – when it wasn’t even up for discussion. It remains to be seen if they will try to use it as a bargaining chip at the next election, and what other industries might be victim to horse-trading to appease activists and secure minor party votes,” he said.

Western Australian Teal Kate Chaney spoke for the live sheep ban in Parliament during the House of Representatives debate, before famously backflipping to vote against it, following an overwhelming outcry from her constituents in Curtin.

“We commended Ms Chaney at the time for listening to her constituents in their opposition to the ban. However, efforts by Keep the Sheep campaigners to clarify whether she would support a reversal of the ban, have gone unanswered, prompting the question of where she would stand if re-elected.

At the next election, it will be critical to establish independent and Teal candidates position on issues that impact the Australian economy, like the live sheep trade, where Labor’s impending ban is already hurting rural communities.

MEDIA

0491 276 036   media@livexcouncil.com.au