Live export consultation panel launches seven-town roadshow in regional WA

The panel leading consultation on Federal Labor’s impending live sheep export ban is in Moora this morning to kick off a surprise four-day tour of regional WA. Countryman understands more than 80 farmers have gathered at Moora Recreation Centre for the two hour consultation session, which runs until 11am, with another to be held in York at 4pm. Public meetings will also be held in Narrogin and Wagin on Tuesday, Katanning and Cranbrook on Wednesday, and Albany on Thursday. It comes after the panel’s first visit to WA in late March, during which private meetings were held with farm lobby groups and other stakeholders in Perth. But an apparent lack of notice of this week’s visit has angered farmers including Corrigin sheep producer Steven Bolt. Mr Bolt, president of industry body The Livestock Collective, vented his frustration on Twitter, questioning recent claims by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt that the government wanted to conduct the phase out “in an inclusive way”. “How then is this acceptable that WA sheep industry and rural communities get 48 hrs notice for public meetings with limited seats to meet with (the) #LiveExport phase out panel?” Mr Bolt wrote. Arthur River farmer and Rural Edge Australia chair Lucy Hall also also called out Senator Watt over the lack of notice given. “It’s such an important topic but give us a bit more time so we can attend,” Ms Hall wrote. “Flat out seeding. School holidays. @MurrayWatt do you really want to consult with us?” Gillian Fennell, a South Australian pastoralist and chair of The Pastoral Collective, said 48 hours was not enough time for farmers to arrange to travel hundreds of kilometres “during one of the busiest times of the year”. “That sounds like a deliberate attempt to restrict industry participation in consultation. I’d hoped for better,” Ms Fennell wrote. When asked by Countryman earlier this month when the panel’s next visit to WA would be, a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry spokeswoman said only that it would occur “in future weeks” and that “the exact details are still being finalised”. Former Murray-Darling Basin boss Phil Glyde is leading the four-person panel, which includes WA farmer Sue Middleton, former RSPCA chief executive Heather Neil and retired Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon. The Albanese Government pledged to phase out live sheep exports in the lead-up to last year’s Federal election, but has yet to confirm a timeframe for the ban. LIVE EXPORT PANEL PUBLIC MEETING DATES: