Calls for Mark McGowan to publicly back live export trade after Forrestfield MP reveals he wants it banned

The WA Opposition has called Premier Mark McGowan to “unequivocally back” the State’s $136 million live export trade after another Perth-based Labor politician revealed he did not support the industry and wanted it banned. During debate on the Animal Welfare and Trespass Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 in Parliament this week, Deputy Speaker and Labor’s Forrestfield MP Stephen Price revealed he did not support the live sheep trade. Mr Price, a former gold miner and union official, told State Parliament he supported the Federal Government’s plan to ban the live sheep export trade while highlighting what he said were while spruiking the potential for animals to be processed onshore. “I make no bones about it. I do not support live sheep export,” he said. “I commend the Federal Government and the Federal Agriculture Minister. . . for what they intend to do and how they intend to phase out the industry. “The industry has not had enough light shone on it.” Mr Price acknowledged the 2011 live export ban, implemented by his “good friend” and Labor’s former agriculture minister Joe Ludwig had caused “reactions” within the industry but said he believed cattle and sheep should be slaughtered on-shore. Shadow agriculture minister Colin de Grussa said this position put Mr Price in direct conflict with WA farmers and called on Mr McGowan “to clarify his Government’s stance”. WA’s live sheep export industry, worth about $136m and employing about 3500 people, has been on tenterhooks since Labor won the Federal election after pledging to phase out the trade. Mr McGowan has refused to back his Federal colleagues’ phase-out plan, which has no time frame — saying only that he believes current animal welfare measures, including vet checks and monitoring, are “effective and appropriate”. “WA’s live sheep trade is one of the most progressive in the world in terms of animal welfare, and provides $136m to the State’s economy each year,” Mr de Grussa said. “This type of internal conflict within Labor is not uncommon, given the soon-to-be former agriculture minister’s history of standing with live export protestors, but the Premier needs to reassure the industry that it has his support.” WA’s live sheep trade shifted back into gear last month, when the first shipment of 50,000 sheep left Fremantle Port after the lifting of the Federal Government’s annual three-month ban. Mr de Grussa said with a replacement agriculture minister on the horizon, the sector needed a guarantee from the State Government that the jobs and livelihoods of WA producers and farmers would be protected. “Given the Labor Federal Government’s plans to shut down the industry and the Premier’s murky position on WA’s live sheep trade, regional communities are rightly concerned,” he said. “If Australia creates a gap in the live export market, it will be filled by other exporters who do not operate with the same, world-leading animal welfare practices that WA does. “By continuing the live sheep trade here in WA, we can ensure welfare outcomes remain strong and ensure WA’s rural economies remain strong too.” WA Nationals Roe MP Peter Rundle — a sheep farmer from Katanning — echoed Mr de Grussa’s calls. “This open admission during Parliament proves Labor cannot be trusted to protect the agriculture sector, including the thousands of jobs it creates and hundreds of communities it supports,” Mr Rundle said. “With the Labor Federal Government committing to phase out the live export industry, it is vital we have all WA Members of Parliament fighting for local producers and farmers. “This uncertainty around the future of the State’s live export industry, at both a State and Federal level is understandably causing angst and fear in regional communities. “I call on the Premier to immediately show his support for the live export industry here in WA to silence the alarm bells currently ringing in Western Australians minds.” WA-based Federal Labor MPs and candidates went silent on live export after the party in May confirmed it would ban the live sheep trade if elected. At the time, Countryman contacted every Labor member and candidate in the House of Representatives and the Senate after the bombshell policy was confirmed, but not one would comment. Farmers worry the nation’s $1.5 billion live cattle trade would be targeted next.