‘Stick to your knitting’: Littleproud slams banks for moral calls on live exports, firearms

The Federal Agriculture Minister has weighed in to the debate on banks refusing service to certain industries.

FEDERAL Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has slammed Australia’s banks for refusing to service the live exports and firearms industries.

Mr Littleproud said banks should “stick to their knitting” instead of making judgment calls on moral grounds.

“It’s not the banks’ responsibility in society to set standards, it’s the governments who are elected by the people,” he told The Weekly Times.”

He said banks had a privileged place in society, “but they should know it’s not for them to judge others”.

Mr Littleproud’s comments come after AgForce Queensland, the Victorian Farmers Federation and NSW Farmers last week condemned financial institutions for their “discriminatory” lending practices, accusing them of giving in to “activist agendas”.

The Weekly Times has previously reported that National Australia Bank was reluctant to provide personal finance to a prominent live exporter because his main income source was from the controversial trade.

That followed reports NAB attempted to shut down the accounts of several long-term customers involved in the firearms industry. Similar issues have been reported with other banks, with lenders claiming the industry is too risky to service.

Mr Littleproud, who was a rural banker with Suncorp before entering politics, vowed to take up the issue with the banking sector on behalf of agriculture, and urged his Cabinet colleagues to do the same.

“I believe it’s important other senior ministers do too, including economic ministers to ensure they understand our expectations,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said the banks’ behaviour was a “poor reflection on what the sector is at risk of becoming”.

“They should stick to their knitting and allow long established institutions in our society to determine what’s an appropriate pursuit and what’s not,” he said.

Victorian Nationals senator, and former agriculture minister, Bridget McKenzie said she would be pursuing the issue with the banks, calling their behaviour “a kick in the guts” for law-abiding firearms owners.

Senator McKenzie – who has long been an avid supporter of the firearms industry – said it was further demonisation of those who enjoyed shooting or worked in the sector.

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