Live export ban: Labor’s consultation panel to cost taxpayers millions over two years

The cost of Labor’s live sheep export ban consultation has finally been revealed, two months after it started, with taxpayers set to shell out more than $5 million over the next two years. The figure was included in the Albanese Government’s 2023-24 Federal Budget, handed down on Tuesday night. During a speech at CropLife Australia’s post-Budget breakfast in Canberra on Wednesday, Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said a “commitment to animal welfare” would maximise trade opportunities in the sector. “Increasingly, it (animal welfare) will underpin our access to international markets,” Senator Watt said. “Our commitment to being leaders in this area has seen us allocate $3m funding for the development of a renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, and $5.6m for the panel advising Government on implementing our commitment to phase out live sheep exports.” The four-person panel was appointed in early March to lead consultation on how and when to phase out the $92m trade, after the Albanese Government took the issue to last year’s election. But it is the first time any figures have been revealed in relation to how much the panel is costing the taxpayer. Liberal MLC Steve Martin has labelled it “an extraordinary waste of money”. “Murray Watt talks about animal welfare being a driver of trade, but the heavily regulated live export industry is a driver of trade,” he said. “The market wants our product. If the panel’s only task is to recommend how to shut down WA’s live export trade, then $5m is an extraordinary waste of money.” The panel — which includes senior public servant Phillip Glyde, prominent WA farmer Sue Middleton, former RSPCA chief executive Heather Neil and retired Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon — first visited WA in late March for talks with farm lobby groups, live export businesses and meat processors in Perth. In April, the panel sparked outrage after failing to advertise a five-day regional roadshow with stops in Moora, York, Narrogin, Wagin, Katanning, Cranbrook, Albany and Esperance. What was planned as a series of private “targeted gatherings” of stakeholders ended up attracting more than 1000 farmers, who downed tools in the middle of seeding despite details being leaked just two days before the first meeting. Mr Glyde, who is chair of the panel, later apologised and admitted “we got it wrong”. “We were expecting to meet with a smaller number of people, so we deliberately didn’t advertise,” he told reporters in Narrogin. “I can see that has been a concern. . . we get the message we have done the wrong thing.” Mr Martin, who attended the Narrogin meeting, said the feedback was clear. “The trade is vital to the interests of WA sheep producers, well regulated, profitable and deserves a future,” he said. “Don’t shut it down.” Mr Glyde told Countryman earlier this month the panel would “definitely be back” for more face-to-face consultation with industry experts and farmers. He said dates and locations were still being finalised, but the panel would likely return this month or next. “We’ll advertise those pretty widely, put the details on the website and social media, and basically (engage in) direct communication with the industry and other stakeholders,” he said.