Live export industry
87. Mr Lachlan Hunter to the Premier:
With the federal election just two days away, Western Australian farmers have been left stunned by revelations of a leak and a grossly inadequate federal compensation package of just $45.5 million for our sheep and wool sectors following the Premier's federal Labor colleagues' decision to shut down the Western Australian live sheep industry.
(1) Given the Premier's stated support for stronger assistance, what specific actions has the Premier and his Minister for Agriculture and Food taken to demand the federal Labor Party give greater support to WA sheep farmers?
(2) Has the Premier specifically asked his mate the Prime Minister to bin the live sheep ban?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question and welcome Hon Bill Marmion to the chamber.
I am aware of a draft internal document from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that has been circulated. Our government has been resolute all along, and that is to support Western Australian farmers in our opposition to the banning of the live sheep trade. This has been an important part of making sure that we continue to support farmers. The member asked for measures that we have taken in relation to this. One of the things we have done is made sure that since the law was passed, we have provided more support for Western Australian farmers. Our efforts—not ours alone; I am sure others were involved—has made the transition package now include a further $32.7 million, bringing the total value of this package to $139.7 million. We will continue—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Roger Cook: We will continue to work with Western Australian farmers to make sure that they are supported in this transition. It is a point of historical fact that the person who originally brought in the legislation to ban the live sheep trade was the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in Canberra, Hon Sussan Ley. So, if the member has a problem with these sorts of measures, these debates catching fire in Canberra, he needs to look no further than to his friends to his left, because they are the ones who essentially brought this debate on in Canberra in the very first instance—a private member's bill that they brought on. The rest, as they say, is history.
We are on record as supporting Western Australian farmers, and we will continue to do so. Of course, the challenge for the National Party now is for it to go on the record and support its farming community by supporting our measures to bring the rail freight network back into public hands. We know that the member for Central Wheatbelt wants to get more grain trucks off the roads, and we agree with him; we think that is a reasonable proposition. The only way we can do that is to bring the rail freight network back into public hands. It was, lamentably, privatised by a former Liberal–National government back in early 2000. Now it is a matter of record that that has been repudiated by former members of the National Party, who recognise that it was a dog of a deal—an absolute dog of a deal. We will continue to support Western Australian farmers. We fervently hope that the National Party will too.
88. Mr Adam Hort to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is the WA government—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: The minister is interrupting the member for Central Wheatbelt as he is trying to ask a question, and I ask that she be asked to desist.
The Speaker: Members, it is a bit hard to hear the question if people are interjecting. I will not uphold that point of order. Carry on, member.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Adam Hort: Premier, is the WA government considering any measures to ensure the sustainability and resilience of WA sheep farming communities who have been let down by Labor?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
We are looking at significant reductions in costs for WA farmers to get their grain to ports and other important locations, by bringing the rail freight network back into public hands. We are also—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt! Treasurer! I will not put up with that behaviour from anyone.
Mr Roger Cook: Another thing we support in Western Australia, in addition to WA farmers, is WA workers. We want to see more sheep processed in Western Australia, because that will provide jobs for Western Australians and provide greater value to our exports—exports to other countries, which continue to grow. For instance, in 2003–04 the live sheep export trade to Kuwait was over 950,000 sheep a year. Today, that number is just 190,000.
Several members interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: In 2013–14, that number was 700,000. Why is that? It is because countries like Kuwait are continuing to buy our value-added processed and packaged meat products. Chilled meats obviously represent a significant export opportunity for Western Australia. It means more value for our exports; it means more Western Australian jobs, and it continues to make sure that we support the Western Australian farming community.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
