LIVE EXPORT —
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY
613. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
recent meeting with the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry regarding the live sheep trade and his comment that he and the Premier
had a very productive conversation.
(1) Has the
Premier formally requested either in writing or in person a change to federal
Labor's policy to end the trade, which employs more than 3 000 Western Australians?
(2) Does the
Premier understand how important the live export industry has been this year in
underpinning the sheep market, given the shortage of labour and with all
abattoirs operating well below capacity?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
(1)–(2) I
did meet with the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
Senator Murray Watt, and Senator Littleproud on these issues when I was in
Canberra for the skills summit. I put to them that many Western Australians
were employed in this industry and that considerable reform of the industry has
been put in place over the past few years and that that reform should be
allowed to continue. I expressed that to both parties in those meetings.