ALEC CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton speaks at a Keep The Sheep rally in Perth.

AUSTRALIA’S peak livestock exporter council has rejected a suggestion by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins that it had pushed for extra funding in the government’s live sheep trade transition support package.

Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said Minister Collins stated in a doorstop press conference today that ALEC was one of the groups that pushed for additional funding as part of the government’s ‘transition’ plan when it bans live sheep exports in 2028.

In a doorstop interview at Bunbury today, Ms Collins was asked: “What are some of the key stakeholders that provided you with the feedback that they want the extra funding?

“Well, we’ve obviously been talking to sheep producers,” she said.

“We’ve been talking to the live export council. We’ve been talking to the NFF. We’ve been talking to the Western Australian government about what is required here on the ground, and we have responded,” the minister said.

Mr Harvey-Sutton said ALEC categorically denied any involvement in the design of the transition package.

“ALEC has stood shoulder to shoulder with farmers since this reckless policy was first introduced and we remain resolute that the repeal of this legislation is the only reasonable course of action.

“The minister claims to be listening to farmers; if she were listening, she would hear loud and clear that transition is unwelcome, both domestically and with our trading partners, who will continue to require livestock,” Mr Harvey-Sutton said.

“The government cannot buy its way out of this appalling policy decision, and it should reverse the ban.”