Federal and WA Labor disconnect over live sheep export ban plan shows ‘State’s weak influence in Canberra’

A disconnect between State and Federal Labor over a plan to end the live export trade in four years has been labelled both embarrassing and indicative of the Cook Government’s weak influence in Canberra. WA Labor claims there was no warning Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt would announce a phase out plan in Perth on Saturday — just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the State. Treasurer Rita Saffioti revealed on Sunday she wasn’t told before handing down her State Budget on Thursday — despite live export estimated to contribute up to $123 million a year to the WA economy. “In relation to this actual decision — prior to cut off — no, I wasn’t aware,” Ms Saffioti said. WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam has called for Premier Roger Cook to stand up to Canberra to reject a ban on live export. “It raises the question of what’s next? It raises the question of whether Anthony Albanese will completely dismiss Roger Cook’s concerns in relation to the GST as well? It illustrates we have weak leadership here in Western Australia,” Ms Mettam said. “If Roger Cook is worth his salt as the leader of the WA Labor government, he will stand up for WA and ensure that this vital industry has a future. “We need to see some real leadership. We need to see Roger cook stand up for Western Australia. “Quite clearly, we have a federal Labour government who don’t care about Western Australia.” As part of his announcement, Mr Watt said there would be a $107 million fund to help the industry transition before the May 1, 2028 deadline. Speaking in Bunbury on Sunday, Mr Cook said it was “obviously devastating news” for WA farmers, but he felt the phasing out of live export was a reality that producers had already come to terms with. “In discussions with the farming industry that I’ve had recently, they’ve said they just want to know what date. They want to get on with it,” Mr Cook said. Mr Cook said his government would support the agricultural sector in the transition but has so far not offered any additional funding from the State to the Federal transition package. “We believe the Commonwealth Government should be providing the financial support to allow the industry to transition,” Mr Cook said, when asked whether there would be State-funded support. “The government has offered a transitional funding scheme; we think that should probably be expanded. “In our submission to the Commonwealth, we said this would cost the industry is up to $123 million a year with the loss of 400 jobs. “The $100-odd million dollars that they’ve offered to date may not be enough. I put them on notice that we may want them to provide extra.” The live export ban plan comes after a six-month inquiry into the trade which considered more than 4000 submissions. Deputy leader of the WA Liberal Party Steve Martin said farmers were already doing it tough with drought-like conditions and forced to kill current stock because of poor market conditions. He said current pressure on farmers included low sheep prices, booked up abattoirs, rising onshore processing costs, and the coming summer moratorium on live export to the northern hemisphere. “People are sadly shooting sheep on farms because there is no market for them at the moment,” Mr Martin said. In a letter obtained by The West Australian by Esperance farmer Sarah Brown to Mr Cook and his agricultural minister Jackie Jarvis, she called for “immediate action” from the State Government. “If you care about WA farmers and sustainable farming systems, as you say, now is the time to demonstrate it,” Ms Brown wrote. “I am now looking at my flock of merinos who are currently dropping prime lambs, and wondering at what point will I need to put them down? I am not sure if you can comprehend how sickening this concept is. “I am disgusted by federal Labor’s aggression toward Western Australia’s rural businesses.” Mr Martin said the end of live exports could also have wider implications on mixed farming enterprises in WA, such as wool production to broadacre cropping techniques which rely on sheep rotation. “It’s not just about the sheep we put on a boat. It’s a very different unique Western Australian system of farming,” Mr Martin said. “Western Australian farmers and livestock producers are reeling. “They turned out in their hundreds to try and convince the Federal Government when they did their consultation process that they’ve got it wrong.” Mr Martin accused the Federal Government of ignoring WA and only trying to appease and “eastern states inner suburban voter”. Pastoralists and Graziers Association policy director Ian Randles said there was concern the ban could be extended to the State’s cattle producers. “I don’t doubt that once the sheep industry has been closed down that animal activists will close in on the cattle industry,” Mr Randles said. “Farmers are very disappointed in Murray Watt. He’s meant to be the ‘Minister for Agriculture’ not the ‘Minister Against Agriculture’. “I just point out that the Kimberly cattle industry will be very exposed by this decision. The Kimberley abattoir near Derby has closed. There’s no other outlet for Kimberley cattle except for them to go on a ship to our nearest neighbours, like Indonesia. “If I was a cattle producer, I’d be very frightened today after Minister Watt’s foolish decision yesterday.”