Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Everybody knows that I am very passionate about the Australian beef industry. It's not just because I am a cattle grazier myself but because the red meat and livestock industry makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy.

In 2022-23, Australia's red meat and livestock industry turnover was $81.7 billion, and the industry employed approximately 420,000 people. In 2023, Australia exported 67 per cent of its total beef and veal production, valued at $11.3 billion. The biggest consumer was the United States, importing 37,231 tonnes, followed by China at 21,572 tonnes. The greater Central Queensland area is a huge contributor to the Australian agricultural sector, with over three million head of cattle throughout the region, predominantly dominated by beef cattle. This is the top cattle region in Australia, with the highest head of cattle numbers anywhere in Australia. In my electorate of Flynn, the beef industry also supports other industries, such as the meatworks in Rockhampton, Brisbane and Biloela—which is the third largest in Queensland—and the heavy vehicle industry, which gets product from paddock to plate.

These statistics are important, as our agricultural sector is under threat due to the Labor government's decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on the importation of beef from the United States. Why is the Labor government prepared to trade away Australia's biosecurity advantage to appease the Trump administration? What is the evidence for this move? And why are we only hearing it from anonymous sources? Australia's strong biosecurity must remain a priority, instead of being used as a bargaining tool by the Labor government.

Australia should not be trading its beef industry away in trade talks with the United States. The United States uses cattle from Mexico and Canada in its supply chain, and that poses a potential risk to our industry. Ignoring those risks would be dangerous to the industry. Rather than jeopardise our beef industry, Australia should leverage off our strong historical ties in other areas, such as critical minerals and the AUKUS deal, using real leadership to obtain a fair deal.

Australian farms and farmers must not be put at risk, with the red meat and livestock industry making a significant contribution to the Australian economy. Biosecurity is non-negotiable. We have the world's best beef. It's used in six billion hamburgers across the United States each year and enjoyed by countries all over the world. Australia's biosecurity is important. It should not be used as a bargaining chip. It needs to be protected.

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