Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee

Wendy Askew

At the request of Senators McKenzie, Nampijinpa Price, Canavan, McDonald, Davey and Cadell, I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 3 relating to a proposed committee reference.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 September 2024:

The social, economic and environmental impacts of banning live sheep exports in Australia, with particular reference to:

(a) the nature and outcomes of consultation;

(b) the effects arising from the ending of live sheep exports on the Australian agricultural sector, including:

(i) the cost and impacts of transition for farmers, exporters, transporters and other participants in the supply chain,

(ii) the process for any government assistance,

(iii) impacts on local communities including regional and remote employment and mental health, particularly in Western Australia,

(iv) the impact on livestock production, prices and competition,

(v) impacts on the processing of livestock within Australia,

(vi) the impact on international animal welfare standards, and

(vii) impacts on other industries within agriculture or the wider economy;

(c) the effect of Australia's live sheep export ban on our trade partners and the barriers to trade in chilled meat; and

(d) any related matters.

Katy Gallagher

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan

Leave is granted.

Katy Gallagher

The comments I make speak to the amendment and the motion. The government won't be supporting the referral of the legislation to the Rural and Regional Affairs Transport References Committee for an inquiry. Views on both sides of the debate have been widely expressed for many years, including at the last federal election when Australians voted to phase out live sheep exports.

For over six months the independent panel consulted extensively, meeting with over 2,000 individuals, holding 80 stakeholder meetings and receiving more than 800 submissions. Then the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture held an inquiry into the legislation, including two in-person hearings, and received 13,000 submissions, the vast majority of which were in favour of the policy. Any further inquiries would only result in duplication. It's time to get on and pass this legislation to give certainty to farmers, get the transition support package out the door and create more jobs in WA.

Andrew McLachlan

The question before the Senate is that the amended motion, standing in the name of Senator McKenzie and others and moved by Senator Askew, be agreed to.