In an unprecedented move at last week’s Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast, the National Farmers’ Federation and multiple peak agricultural bodies walked out during the Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt’s address.
Together they demonstrated to the Minister he had crossed a line by announcing a radical four-year timeline to banning live sheep exports on Saturday.
The group comprising the NFF, Wool Producers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, Australian Livestock Export Council, WA Farmers, AgForce Queensland and NSW Farmers left the event when the Minister started talking about the ban.
“We turned our back to the Minister just like he turned his back on farmers,” NFF President David Jochinke said.
“The walkout represents what this government did to agriculture when it pursued this ideological agenda, disregarding the real-world implications this ban will have on farmers, communities, our trading relationships and animal welfare outcomes.
“It appears this Government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers. Perhaps if we start behaving like activists they might listen to us.”
Sheep Producers Australia Chair Andrew Spencer said the decision by the Federal Government to announce the live sheep export phase-out timeline last week further cements the complete and utter lack of understanding they have for our agricultural industries and support for regional Australians.
“Today Sheep Producers Australia walked out on the current Agricultural Minister’s budget speech with our fellow agricultural bodies to send a message that we and our producers have been treated with complete contempt,” said Mr Spencer.
“The four-year timeline and the minimal investment committed to transitioning our industry away from live export speaks volumes – our Agricultural Minister has walked out on us – he has walked out on our industry.”
“We are still shocked at the disrespect we were shown on Saturday by the government’s announcement and the clear alignment with the anti-farming activist bodies is appalling.”
Cattle Australia (CA) has condemned Federal Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt’s deplorable announcement the live sheep trade will be closed from May 2028, with chief executive officer Dr Chris Parker announcing CA stands by its sheep producer colleagues against a government legitimising extreme activism over evidence-based policy.
“Live sheep exporters have demonstrated time and time again they are world leaders in animal welfare,” Dr Parker said.
“This announcement is a kick in the guts for our rural and regional communities and has exposed just how out of touch this government is with the agriculture industry – one of the biggest contributors to the Australian economy and an integral part of our social fabric.
“The timing of this announcement also reveals a shocking disingenuity after both the Prime Minister and Minister Watt spent time at Beef2024 in Rockhampton shaking hands, slapping backs and spruiking their commitments to the agriculture industry while clearly plotting the destruction of one of its key parts.”
Mr Jochinke said it was imperative to make a stand for the thousands of people and small businesses the trade ban would impact, but it was also much bigger than just the live sheep export trade.
“We will fight this decision tooth and nail. Agricultural policy must be built on evidence, science and listening to farmers, not ideology and inner city vote grabbing,” said Mr Jochinke.
