LIVE EXPORT — MIDDLE EAST TRADE RELATIONS
449. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comment in an article on
WAtoday on 11 June that ''there needs to be more visits by senior
Australian political figures to China'' in order to improve
relationships with our largest trading partner.
(1) Given that
the Premier's government's threat to ban live export has
threatened trade relationships with some of our biggest agricultural trading
partners in the Middle East, when will a minister from his government visit
these nations to improve our state's relationship with them?
(2) What
contingency has the government put in place if his government's threat
to ban live export has consequences for other agricultural commodities traded
with the Middle East?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2)
The Premier rejects the premise of the question. At no stage has our government
threatened to ban live exports, but we recognise that the appalling regulation
of the industry by the federal government has resulted in a massive loss of
confidence in the industry. Minister MacTiernan has engaged with trading
partners and governments in the Middle East to assure them of our commitment to
supporting their food security and to find alternatives in terms of boxed and
chilled meat during the contentious, high summer period.