Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to condemn the Cook and Albanese Labor governments for precipitating the closure of the first of my many O'Connor abattoirs. The announced closure of Beaufort River Meats came just one day after WA Minister Jarvis proudly announced the allocation of $20 million in supply chain capacity funding intended to support those affected by this government's nonsensical ban of the live sheep export trade. These are the first live sheep export trade transition dollars to actually reach affected producers and processors. But after almost two years of uncertainty, WA sheep numbers have collapsed to the point where processors are struggling to keep their doors open. This is a massive case of too little coming too late.

My electorate of O'Connor once produced the bulk of the sheep destined for live export by sea, but due to government-induced loss of confidence, farmers have been pivoting from sheep production literally in droves. Our state flock has plummeted from 12.7 million in 2022 to an estimated six million, falling below the critical mass for a sustained WA processing sector. Of this $20 million grant allocation, over $16 million has gone to just five processors. My phone has been burning up with devastated sheep farmers asking me why their applications have been rejected when they are the worst affected by the live sheep export ban.

How did this government get it so wrong? It was that they just didn't listen. Industry has long warned of the perverse outcomes of banning a perfectly legitimate and ethical live sheep export trade. These are now playing out locally and internationally. Many of our Middle East trading partners are impacted by the conflict unfolding on their doorsteps. Kuwait is our biggest live export destination. They also import huge volumes of Australian wheat, barley and chilled sheepmeat. When I visited Kuwait in 2024, it really hit home when they talked about how much they relied on their trusted and longstanding trade relationship with Australia, saying, 'Throughout the Gulf War it was Australia who continued to deliver food to our country of four million citizens who cannot produce their own.'

Sadly the last ship sailed to Kuwait some time ago. With the government-driven shortage of sheep for domestic processing, coupled with skyrocketing sheep prices, it is unlikely there will be any shipments going forward, which means the live sheep export ban starting 1 May 2028 is effectively upon us already. This makes the rollout of the government's much lauded transition package even more urgent. Funding needs to be refocused on rebuilding confidence and salvaging the livelihoods of participants throughout the supply chain if the sheep meat industry in O'Connor is to be saved.

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