Minister Collins, second from right, discusses sheep with SPA CEO Bonnie Bergin, LambEx chair Jason Schulz, SA’s Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven and producer Nigel Kerin.

AUSTRALIA’S new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins did not rule out increasing the live sheep export transition package when questioned at the LambEx conference in Adelaide today.

The minister’s media people turned down several requests for an interview opportunity at the conference, although the minister being taken on a tour of the conference trade stands by organisers and Sheep Producers of Australia chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner.

Ms Collins did not visit the Keep the Sheep supporters at LambEx and in a faux pas during her short speech in the conference’s trade hall said it is “good to be at Livex.”

However, the minister answered a few questions while walking to catch her plane out of Adelaide.

“Look I want to engage with the industry first and I’ve been talking with the Western Australian Government – I’ve already had some initial discussions,” Ms Collins told Sheep Central when asked if she would consider increasing the current $107 million transition package.

“My job now is to make the transition as smooth as possible,” she said.

Ms Collins predecessor Murray Watt last month was reported by the ABC as seemingly leaving the door open to providing more funding to transition the WA industry to the phaseout of live sheep exports by seas by May 2028.

In an interview with Stateline WA, Mr Watt insisted the federal government’s $107 million transition package was “significant”, but said he was hopeful of reaching an agreement with the WA government over what was needed.

Several peak farmer bodies have also reportedly urged WA’s Cook Government to lobby Canberra to increase the transition package to $300 million.

Ms Skinner told Sheep Central she expressed a willingness to discuss a number of industry issues with Ms Collins, while showing her some of the LambEx exhibits.

“I think we will do that in the very near future.

“Top of the list certainly is we are going to be discussing live exports and what the (phaseout) implementation approach is going to look like,” she said.

“That’s something that is key for us since the legislation has been passed.”

Ms Skinner said it has been the view of SPA that the quantum of the transition package is insufficient and inadequate to meet the aims that the government itself is saying that it wants to achieve.

“So that will certainly be something we will be looking to discuss with the minister and the department.”

Ms Skinner said she would like to see the transition package increased but work needed to be done to define a figure.

The sheep and wool industries came together after a six-year break for LambEx 2024 in Adelaide this week, with $1 million in support from the Albanese Labor Government as part of the Support Regional Trade Events program.

Ms Collins said during her speech in the trade hall that the future of Australia’s sheep and wool industries is strong.

“That’s why our government is proud to be supporting LambEx 2024, and why it was such a pleasure to speak at the conference today.

“Given the high attendance from sheep, lamb and wool industry representatives at LambEx, I know optimism for the future of the sheep and wool industries is widespread,” she said.

“I look forward to engaging further with sector leaders and farmers, and working together to ensure Australia remains renowned for its high-quality produce.”

Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said the minister’s unwillingness to engage and take questions at the conference was indicative that the government knows it its phaseout policy “is on shaky ground.”

“Minister Watt, the previous minister, consistently said that they were on solid ground, they were right.

“Well if they are right, why wouldn’t the minister be happy to stand and answer questions at this conference?” he said.

“I think it’s a slight on the hard working farmers who were present today.

“We’ve had huge support at our stand with people signing up to the (Keep the Sheep) campaign, it’s got over 80,000 signatures,” he said.

“I think this is a sign that the government is concerned about the momentum of the campaign and it is very indicative that the minister was not to stand up and face those producers with conviction and say’these are the questions I have to answer’.

“They are worried about it.”