Murray Watt at the sustainability summit in Toowoomba.
FEDERAL agriculture minister Murray Watt says the cattle industry should not be worried about losing its live export trade, almost two weeks after the Government announced a plan to phase out live sheep exports.
Minister Watt’s relationship with the agricultural industry has taken a hit in recent weeks, with the National Farmers’ Federation declaring it has no confidence in this Government to represent agriculture and walking out of a post budget speech he held to address the live export ban.
Today he managed to keep National Farmers’ Federation representatives in the building for a sustainability summit in Toowoomba – which was talking about the ag sector’s net zero by 2050 plan.
Speaking to reporters outside the summit, he was asked about the live sheep phase out and whether the cattle industry should be concerned.
“I have repeatedly and publicly told the live cattle export industry that the Albanese Government supports its industry – not even just that we don’t to close it down, we support it,” he said.
“Cattle are a much hardier species that travel much shorter journey. You are talking about a two-or-three journey to Indonesia versus a very long journey to the Middle East from less hardy species.
“We also see the economics of it very differently, the live cattle industry is a backbone industry for Northern Australia, the live sheep industry is less than one percent of Western Australia’s agricultural output.”
Minister Watt is also facing some pressure from members of the crossbench to make live cattle exports the next one to go.
The Greens are no fans of live export and Teal Member for North Sydney Kylea Tink has been publicly calling for cattle to be next.
Minister Watt said he had briefed the crossbench about the live sheep phase out, where some of the members were calling for a ban live cattle exports as well.
“One of them made very clear to me that they want to see live cattle exports closed down and I made very clear to that person that we are not going to do that, it is not our Government’s policy and we support the industry,” he said.
One of the loudest calls to phase out live cattle exports has come from the Animal Justice Party, which says it did a preference deal with Labor during the Dunkley by-election in March to end live sheep exports.
Minister Watt denied there had ever preference deal with AJP and said Labor had held the live sheep export policy long before the Dunkley by-election.
“I would really encourage people who are believing that to just think about it for a second – it doesn’t make sense.
“There are other people who have spoken up about the live sheep export industry, did they do preference deals with the AJP?” he said referring to Coalition members, including deputy leader Sussan Ley, who campaigned to end live sheep exports in 2018.
Minister backs processors to scale up
The live export phase out panel recommended the Government review the transition to onshore processing in 2026 and review the 2028 deadline at the same time.
Minister Watt said the Government was not keen to move the deadline.
“We will do a stocktake to see how it is going, but we have made a clear decision that we are not reviewing the phase out date,” he said.
“We think it is really important to give industry a really clear signal of when the date is so we can get this transition underway because the earlier this transition starts the better it will go in the long run. If people have some doubt about when the date will be it discourages them to get the transition underway.”
Minister Watt said he believed the timeline was right to develop workforces and feedlot capacity to support processes.
“The way some people have reacted to this, it as if we have stopped live exports straight away – that option is still available for the next four years while we build the processing capacity,” he
“We are not asking the processing facility to double or triple in capacity, we are asking them take 14pc of the capacity.”
Farm lobby groups have also been critical of the $107m package to phase out industry, saying it falls short of what is required.
“I don’t think it’s a small package, you are all taxpayers and you are chipping in $107m to an industry that has been in decline for 20 years,” he said.
“At the same time live sheep exports have been going through the floor, sheep meat exports are going through the roof.”
It wasn’t Watt it was When,it wasn’t cruelty it was preference deals,it wasn’t in this term but it is in this term,you’re saying your telling the truth,how can this be so???
You cannot believe a word they say. In fact I would believe the opposite of what he said.
Do you realize what you have done even to small farmers like myself, no out of business
Live exports of cattle and sheep should continue.
A bit of luck you won’t be minister in one year not everyone agreed with of cattle and sheep you dont
I would not believe a word thet comes out of the mouth of this minister. If any beef growers do, I remind them of when they banned live export to Indonesia durineing the Rudd, Gillard, Rudd era.
We are being governed by a socialist coalition of politicians who are loose with the truth.
So Labor says the live cattle export business is safe.. we should be concerned because they have proven themselves as liars again and again.
There is nothing inhumane with the sheep export industry, it provides fresh meat to countries that generally don’t have the available electricity to support bulk boxed meat. They simply can’t refrigerate the product.
This moronic government,teals,greens has successfully decimated manufacturing now it wants to obliterate agriculture its goal is to import all food.
I cannot believe that Australia’s live sheep export outlook is in the hands of people who don’t appear to me to have any experience in this area.
Meat exports and live-sheep exports complement one another. 100%. Figures do not tell lies.
Australian sheep exported to the M/E in 1974 totalled 900,000 head. In 1982 the figure was 6.2 million. Mutton exports were 6,600 tonnes in 1974 and 42,700 tonnes in 1982. Obvious isn’t it!!
I lived in the M/E for 6 years and was active in this trade. In 1977 the average price for all sheep sold by Elders Australia was $9.46. The figure June 1982 was
$20.57.
Many Australian sheep have been used for sacrificial purposes, over many years, and this small demand also has a positive influence on M/E outlook towards sheep from Australia.Do the current decision makers realise a carcase is no use for sacrificing.
Unfortunately the benefit to Australia’s producers reflected in the above figures will not be reapeted if the current Govt. intention becomes a reality.
The live cattle industry is here to stay.
The $275 reduction in power bills is here to stay.
A reduction in migrant intakes is here to stay.
The turn back of all refugee boats is here to stay.
“We will not touch Superannuation” is here to stay.
“Power bills will be cheaper” is here to stay.
“We will reduce inflation” is here to stay.
Say no more. Only a cynic could be unconvinced.
Every previous response from readers is valid. If the Albanese government is keen to support the live export industry perhaps a first step might be to abide by the 2020 ruling of the Federal Court and pay due compensation to those affected by the absurd knee-jerk decision from Ludwig et al to halt live exports in 2011. Watt and the current Labor government have absolutely no credibility regarding support for rural communities or agriculture in any form
Until there is another preference deal in the offering. First past the post looks good to us.
Australian Cattle Industry Council
Two points.
Where is the $275 cheaper power bill and
Who is in power ONLY because the greens, teals and AJP put them there.
I would not trust a word he says says.
In 2023 the average cattle voyage to SE Asia was 8.6 days(not 2-3), 18.9 days to NE Asia and 21.2 days to the Middle East(many of those voyages were a mix of sheep and cattle).
The Ag Minister continues to show he doesn’t understand, nor care about live export and that the basis of his reasoning for banning sheep is flawed and that the cattle industry should be very very worried.
MURRAY WATT , You can believe a word the guy says , AKA ” Sean Penn “