The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on freshly-minted Federal Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt

In a wide-ranging discussion, the pair discuss jobs and the industry’s underlying labour shortage, biosecurity challenges including FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease, energy prices, livestock export trade and carbon emissions.

Sen Watt was a solicitor before entering the Queensland public service where he worked as chief of staff to Premier Anna Bligh from 2002 to 2007.

He entered federal politics when he was elected to the Senate for Queensland in 2016, having previously served in the Queensland Parliament representing the seat of Everton.

Prior to last month’s Federal election, he served as shadow minister for Northern Australia, Disaster and Emergency Management and Queensland Resources in Opposition.

Senator Watt also participated in Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee inquiries in 2019 and 2020.

Sponsoring our Weekly Grill podcast series are Kelly’s Finance Group and Elanco Animal Health.

Previous episodes:

• Wagyu Association president and 2022 Zanda McDonald award winner, Charlie Perry
• Latest cattle market wrap with TEM’s Matt Dalgleish and Stockco’s Chris Howie
• Cattle Baron Peter Hughes
• ALFA president Barb Madden
• Author and rural identity Sally Warriner
• Australia’s chief vet Mark Schipp, on Lumpy Skin Disease and other key biosecurity issues
• Herron Todd White’s Tim Lane
• RCS’s Terry McCosker on carbon
• Beef processing plant manager Wasa Mudannayake
• Head of asset performance for Macquarie Group’s MIRA Agriculture division, including Paraway Pastoral Co, Jock Whittle
• Veteran beef industry leader David Crombie
• Beef Central’s regular live export market commentator and columnist Dr Ross Ainsworth
• Cattle market wrap with TEM’s Matt Dalgleish and Stockco’s Chris Howie
• Australian meat Industry Council’s Patrick Hutchinson
• Agriculture Minister  David Littleproud
• Council of Australia president Markus Rathsmann
• Patrick Warmoll, the boss of Jack’s Creek Wagyu
• Veteran pastoral company executive Roger Halliwell
• Retired non-packer beef exporter, Richard Rains
• Carbon trading expert Toby Grogan from Impact Agriculture
• Red Meat Advisory Council chair John McKillop
• Stud cattle showing identities Gary Noller and Rob Sinnamon
• Veteran Victorian cattle buyer David Ronalds
• Beef processing legend ACC’s David Foote
• Live export class action facilitator Tracey Hayes
• Signature Beef’s Blair Angus
• Consolidated Pastoral Co chief and Livecorp chairman Troy Setter
• Nutrition scientist and MLA board member Manny Noakes
• CCA independent northern and southern directors Alice Greenup and Olivia Lawson
• Australian Agricultural Co head Hugh Killen
• Sydney independent red meat retailer Stephen Kelly
• lotfeeder Charlie Mort
• Processor and supply chain manager, Terry Nolan
• Livestock transport operator Ross Fraser
• Organic supply chain manager Alister Ferguson

The Weekly Grill is brought to readers and listeners by Kelly’s Finance Group and Elanco Animal Health.