Opinion: Political inaction by the State Government on live export issue a huge let-down

As the live export panel has completed it second visit to WA to consult with stakeholders affected by the Federal Government’s plan to ban the live sheep trade, I can’t help but feel for those whose lives will be turned upside down by the decision. I’ve been encouraged by the response of the industry in its opposition to the Federal Government’s position, as hundreds turned out for these panel sessions, with some having as little as 48 hours notice. What concerns me most about what I have seen since 2018, is how decisions have been made in consultation with people who do not have sheep, or even a farm — decisions which ultimately don’t affect those occupying the highest seats in the country. It was ironic former agriculture minister David Littleproud said he would keep the live sheep trade open, because it was under his watch that Animals Australia was invited to the consultation table on new industry reforms. An organisation that wants the world to be vegan. It was under his watch that the live sheep trade was almost regulated out of existence and that our longstanding international partners began looking for alternative sheep markets, such as in South Africa. It was under his watch The Livestock Collective emerged to help educate Australians about the trade and the benefits of exporting live sheep into markets that require them to support their domestic protein needs. Something that has proven to be invaluable for the industry, but essentially did not need to exist if politicians and governments did their job and represented industry properly. In reality, it is not just the animal activist minority that farmers need to worry about. If we take the last five years as an example, multiple politicians at both the State and Federal levels, from mainly the left and centre of the spectrum have betrayed the trust of Australians, especially WA sheep farmers. Instead of putting up a fight for the WA sheep industry the past few weeks the State Premier Mark McGowan was in China, and the WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis was continuing her schedule of events. If Mr McGowan truly represented West Australians then there was no need for him to jump on the Labor bandwagon and head to China, there’s enough to deal with at home. We have had flooding in the north damaging critical infrastructure in the Fitzroy River Bridge, and a follow-up cyclone destroying Pardoo Station. It’s fantastic that work on the bridge will start next month but something so critical to WA transport infrastructure should have been a top priority — with all hands on deck to get supplies flowing back into the region. We have a housing crisis, homelessness in record numbers, police and nurse retention issues, hospital wait times below first world expectations, youth crime on the rise, cost of living pressures. . . the list goes on. Most importantly for WA sheep producers we have a State Government carrying on like there was no issue. All the rhetoric in the world means nothing when it is not followed up by action. To say that the WA Government supports the continuation of the live sheep trade and then not ensure that you have the ears of the Federal Minister on the issue, or turn up in support of farmers when it counts, is blase and lacks sincerity. Even former agriculture minister Alannah MacTiernan went quiet when the heat was turned up on the industry a few years ago, and turned down invitations to attend live export vessel tours to see for herself the conditions sheep would experience on board. It’s no surprise that the WA Premier has gone quiet. Yes, we may have some time — as the decision will not be final until after the 2025 election. Just like anybody else, farmers can change their jobs and sell their businesses, and that’s the last thing agriculture needs. We need the regions to be alive and productive, and for people to want to be there and do the hard jobs required to feed the nation. The State Government has let farmers down. Politicians have proven that when it really matters, they are more concerned about grandstanding, ideology, and playing along. While I think most regional, voters already knew this, they are wide awake to it now. This issue has shown that WA farm advocacy groups cannot afford to let their guard down, because no one else cares enough to lay their careers on the line. They must continue to raise the issues that matter and defend the live export industry. Farmers need to get behind them and support them and become actively involved before it’s too late to change the course. The arguments for keeping the live export trade open have been spelled out extremely well by industry representatives in WA and across the country. The problem is the message hasn’t reached the inner city suburbs in the Eastern States. This is why our local politicians need to step up and represent those whose voice is being ignored by the decision-makers in Canberra. At this stage, it appears that only Labor members will be able turn the tide on their own party’s position. I hope that the live export panel reports back to Federal Government that the idea should be shelved indefinitely. The consequences will be too great for many and the impact more than these politician realise. Aidan Smith is a reporter at the Countryman newspaper.