‘Dumb idea’: Nationals leader David Littleproud fires warning shot

Nationals leader David Littleproud has fired an early warning shot over a proposal that would cost Australia billions of dollars.

David Littleproud says Labor’s plan to phase out live sheep exports – supported by the Deputy Liberal Leader – is a “dumb idea” which will cost Australians billions of dollars.

In the lead up to last month’s federal election, Labor confirmed it intended to commit to the pledge it took to the 2019 election to phase out live sheep exports, citing animal welfare concerns.

The Nationals Leader has taken aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Agriculture Minister Murray Watt over their renewed pledge, which will disproportionately affect the WA economy.

Mr Albanese said the industry would not be shut down during this term of government, with Senator Watt expressing his intentions to consult industry, relevant state governments and other stakeholders in phasing out the nearly-$100m industry.

Mr Albanese said the economic consequences would be factored in, but ultimately people care about the “animal welfare issues”.

Labor has recommitted to its plan to phase out live sheep exports. Picture: AAP / Trevor Collens

It’s a sentiment which was supported by now-Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley, who in 2018 broke ranks to support a Labor bill to phase out live sheep exports.

She reaffirmed her position as recently as last month, telling Sky News: “There’s a win here.”

“If we increase the processing capacity in Australia, we actually don’t need this trade at all,” she said.

While Mr Littleproud did not mention Ms Ley by name when speaking about the proposed phase-out on Adelaide radio on Tuesday morning, he said Australia needed to maintain its position in the global live export trade.

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has voiced her support for a live export sheep ban. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tracey Nearmy

He hit back at Labor’s claims of animal welfare, citing the work he did as agriculture minister to “clean it up”.

“There’s no justification for this. When I was agriculture minister in 2018 I said I’d reform the industry, predicated on science and practice and culture … we’ve done that,” he told 5AA.

“Labor is saying they want to phase out exports predicated on signs of animal welfare … We can now measure (welfare) … (so that) is ridiculous.”

Australia has introduced a method of measuring pants-per-minute of each animal while on the journey overseas, and has an industry standard of a less than one per cent mortality rate.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud has warned countries will turn to less-ethical live export trades in place of Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tracey Nearmy

He warned that countries who rely on Australia’s live sheep trade would look elsewhere instead, with other countries unlikely to place as much importance on animal welfare.

“This is a retrograde step. We’re effectively saying we value the welfare of a sheep in Australia more than of another country,” Mr Littleproud said.

Mr Littleproud said while it would not have a direct impact on Australia’s lamb prices, Australian tax payers could end up paying for a multibillion-dollar compensation bill.

Labor’s decision back in 2011 to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia resulted in a $2b compensation bill which the government has paid out to farmers and other export workers following a court case.

Labor has said it’s unlikely the live sheep export ban will happen during this current term of government, with extensive consultation required. Picture: AAP / Richard Wainwright

Mr Littleproud claimed Senator Watt had said the door would be “left open” for compensation to export workers.

“We don’t know the dollar amount they may compensate farmers for taking away this market. It’s just costing taxpayers billions of dollars when we could be making billions of dollars,” he said.

“It just doesn’t make sense.”

On Monday, Senator Watt said he had not done any modelling for the proposed phase-out – because there had been no moves yet to begin the consultation process – a move Mr Littleproud blasted as “reckless”.

Senator Watt did rule out extending the live export phase-out to cattle.