News

Agriculture Minister Littleproud urged to meet WA live sheep exporters

Terry Sim July 31, 2018

ALEC chairman Simon Crean, left, with Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud.

AUSTRALIA’S Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud has refused to meet with a Western Australian exporter seeking clarification on the pathway forward for live sheep exports to the Middle East.

News of the refusal over recent weeks has come as the leaders of the WA farm bodies – WA Farmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association of WA – urge the minister to meet with farmers and the three licensed WA sheep exporters remaining; Wellards, Livestock Shipping Services and Harmony Agriculture and Food Pty Ltd.

Livestock Shipping Services livestock manager Harold Sealy today said Mr Littleproud’s office had refused to meet LSS representatives, despite the exporter’s willingness to meet with the minister in Canberra.

Mr Sealy told Sheep Central LSS was told by Mr Littleproud’s chief of staff Alison Penfold that its representatives could meet with her, but not with the minister. Ms Penfold was formerly the chief executive officer of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council and is advising the minister on live export matters.

“We wanted to discuss everything that we were doing; we wanted to discuss our business and the effects of the (McCarthy review) changes on our commercial business,” Mr Sealy said.

The company is still “well and truly” unclear about the pathway forward for live sheep exporters, he said.

Australia’s largest live sheep exporter Emanuel Exports and its subsidiary EMS Rural Exports have had their licences suspended by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, leaving about 60,000 sheep in a feedlot near Perth. Emanuel and the sheep’s intended importer Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading are still trying to organise the export of about 45,000 of the sheep to the Middle East.

The other WA live sheep exporters are now questioning the viability of live sheep exports to the Middle East under new stocking density and heat stress assessment rules, and with the threat of legal action by Animals Australia, if the regulator approves a licence for the shipment of sheep to the Middle East during the northern summer months.

A Wellard spokesman said the the company always welcomed the opportunity to meet Mr Littleproud whenever he comes to WA or its representatives were in Canberra, but had not sought a personal meeting.

“Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting to discuss current industry issues.

“Like many exporters, we have had regular contact with his office over the past few months.”

Harmony managing director Steve Meerwald said he had no comment to make at this stage.

WA farm bodies united on Littleproud meeting with exporters

PGA president Tony Seabrook has told Sheep Central the WA exporters “feel shut out” and he has urged Mr Littleproud to meet with them to give some clear direction, “but not this ‘have a go and see what happens’.”

WA Farmers president Tony York said Mr Littleproud’s office has said the minister wanted to come to Western Australia “as soon as he possibly can” to meet with WA farmers and other industry people.

“He has also being encouraged (by WA Farmers) to meet with the exporters and I’m assured that is not including Emanuel, but with the others.

“Through his office, the indications are that he is seriously considering that, so we are hopeful that he will take that up.”

Mr York said WA Farmers wanted to make sure Mr Littleproud fully understood the state’s issue, including the small backlog of sheep that should have been shipped in the last six weeks.

“So there are real on-ground issues that are needing to be managed, which he can’t deal with directly, but he needs to be aware of that.

“And if he can give us some confidence about some key trigger points that can give us some clarity on what can happen…” Mr York said.

“The farmers and the supply chain in WA, they’re just looking for a bit of a pathway on how they could plan and manage their own issues going forward, with the McCarthy summer trade restrictions and when we can go back to a normal stocking densities, probably in November,” he said.

“When can shippers start planning and get an indication that trade will return to some sort of normality after the summer period?

“He needs to offer the opportunity to meet with those exporters, even if they go to him – they need to have the opportunity to talk through their issues.”

Littleproud silent on meeting WA exporters

Despite questions from Sheep Central, Mr Littleproud this week has not stated whether he is prepared to meet with the three WA exporters. But in a statement today, his office said live exporters must show their Middle East customers and Australia, the live sheep trade can be done properly.

The minister’s office said Mr Littleproud recently travelled to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and last week to Israel, to support the live export industry. The statement said: “The government is doing all it can, but that effort will come to nothing if no exporter steps up and takes the sheep which are currently in Perth to the Middle East, where customers need to know Australia can supply sheep through the northern summer.”

Mr Littleproud said ALEC has for years said its members are the world leaders in live export “and now is their chance to prove it.”

“ALEC members need to show us they haven’t been taking us for mugs the whole time,” he said.

“Let’s talk straight.

“The current situation is the result of the alleged actions of an exporter,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Exporters have made millions of dollars off sheep farmers.

“It’s time for an exporter to step up; farmers should not take the fall.”

Mr Littleproud said “an exporter needs to take these sheep to the Middle East.

“Exporters who value the trade know we need to show Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE we can give them supply through their summer.

“We also need to show Australians the trade can be done properly through the Middle Eastern summer and rebuild public support for this industry,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said when an exporter is suspended, it is not the fault of the government, the regulator, nor of farmers.

“Letting exporters do the wrong thing without serious consequences would eventually see the trade shut down forever.

“Suggestions the independent regulator should look the other way to ignore allegedly dodgy behaviour are dangerous,” he said.

“Suggestions I should hold talks with suspended exporters to broker a deal with them are equally dangerous.”

Littleproud lobbies for live export trade in Israel

Mr Littleproud travelled to Israel last week to lobby for live animals from Australia to continue. The Israeli Parliament will soon consider a move to cease the trade.

“The live trade can be done by the right people, the right way,” he said.

“The Australian Government has long been serious about animal welfare.

“With the McCarthy Review changes I’ve implemented, Israel can be assured we’re serious about animal welfare,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Those changes include reduced stocking densities and independent observers on every boat supplying the truth of what happens on those voyages, and proof of it.

“The live sheep trade is important to our farmers, particularly our West Australian farmers,” he said.

“It was important I make the trip here and represent their interests as well as the interests of animal welfare.”

Sheep Central has sought a response from ALEC to Mr Littleproud’s latest comments.

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Comments

  1. Laurie Hallam, August 2, 2018

    The minister has put himself into a corner. His own so-called “independent” report says sheep shouldn’t be sent during the northern summer. Even with reduced stocking rates, the sheep will still suffer.
    I was shocked that the last load of sheep that were exported as a result of an illegal permit issued by the minister’s own department. The department is supposed to by the independent regulator. One wonders how a decision got through to give the unlawful permit? It seems that has been swept under the carpet.
    The minister went to the Middle East telling them that the government can clean up the trade. I think that is an ambitious statement. The statement that the voyages would have independent supervisors is not convincing.
    This matter has dragged on with the minister withdrawing their legislation at the last minute because they feared too many would vote down the amendments. The fact is that the PM and his government has lost the confidence of the Australian electorate and they blunder on saying they will not retract the proposed tax cuts to the banks. Most MPs know they are being led over the cliff by the PM although they are too scared to say it publicly. Labor will win the next election and have given a promise to phase this evil, insidious industry out. This government allowed this problem to fester and their present attempts to save the industry are desperate.

  2. John (Jack) Randles, August 2, 2018

    Perhaps it is time the WA farmers took the next step and form a live sheep export co-operative company to export the live sheep themselves, similar to the bold step taken by the WA farmers who formed a company and took over the Katanning meat works, turning it into the prosperous sheep meats exporter we know today.

  3. Clare Mann, August 1, 2018

    It is staggering to think that the Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is now calling for live exporters to ‘step up’ and take 60,000 sheep to the Middle East to prove that they can do it ‘properly’, whatever that means, in the heat of the northern summer. Effectively, this is Mr Littleproud encouraging horrific animal cruelty, while attempting to avoid responsibility by blaming exporters alone for the outcome. The minister cannot expunge this from his legacy and the Liberals will pay heavily for this in the next election.

  4. Jesse Hodder, August 1, 2018

    Why is Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud encouraging animal cruelty by begging live export companies to take 45,000 sheep into the hottest part of the northern summer? Especially when the export companies have either had their licences revoked or simply don’t want to export the sheep? If he would support Sussan Ley’s common sense Bill to transition away from live sheep exports over the next three years it would allow farmers to adjust their operating model and stay competitive, whilst ensuring this cruelty would be done for good. Don’t be bloody-minded and please sign the Bill, Minister Littleproud.

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