Wednesday, 8 March 2023

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:20): (69) My question is for the Minister for Agriculture. Minister, do you support your federal colleagues in their decision to bring an end to live sheep exports from Australia, given you represent some of the finest sheep farmers in the nation?

The PRESIDENT: The issue I have with that question is that it is clearly asking for an opinion from the minister. Can I have the question again?

Bev McARTHUR: Certainly, President. I am asking if the minister endorses and supports her federal colleagues in their decision to bring an end to live sheep exports from Australia, given she represents some of the finest sheep farmers in the nation.

The PRESIDENT: All right, I will put the question.

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:21): I thank the member for her question. It is an interesting question because I would assume that the member would know that in terms of Victoria we have not been exporting live sheep since 2018. I understand that the federal government did make an election commitment, and now they are going through a consultation process with those farmers that are continuing to export sheep across the country. They will be doing that between now and towards the end of their term of government. They have said that they are not going to stop the current contracts at this point in time; it will be an issue in respect to implementation for the following period of federal government. So this is an issue that is live in many parts of the country but, as an issue more generally in Victoria, not so much.

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:23): You might want to tell that to your farmers in your electorate, I might say. The value of live export to the Australian cattle industry is greater even than that of sheep. Beef production employs 19,000 people in Victoria, and live exports are an important market in this multibillion-dollar industry. So I ask, Minister: will you take this opportunity today to defend the interests of Victorian beef farmers and give your clear support to these exports now and for the future?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:23): I thank the member for her question. I would like some direction from you, President, in terms of the connection between what we were talking about and the substantive. It was a federal issue to do with sheep export, and now it is in relation to beef.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: My mind went to the interjection that went into my head just then, and I see a link with live exporting. I actually did not know – and there are lots of things I do not know – that the live exporting of sheep had ceased in Victoria and therefore it was not pertinent to your administration. But I am happy, Minister, for you to answer the question as you see fit.

Gayle TIERNEY: Thank you, President. I reiterate that I am advised that Victoria has not exported live sheep for slaughter since 2018.