Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia once rode on the sheep's back. That was an expression that was so very true for so many regional and rural parts of our great country. Well do I remember the stories of a single bale of wool being sold and that farmer going out and purchasing a new vehicle from the proceeds of that single bale. But, under this Labor government, we have seen the undercutting and the destruction of this once great Australian industry. Just in the last few years—since this government came to power—the value of Australian wool exports has plummeted from $3½ billion. It is currently on a trajectory to hit $2 billion next year. That is a decline of almost 40 per cent in the time of this Labor government. In attacking this industry and in closing down a key part of the sheep industry, this Labor government has undermined regional communities right across this state.

In particular, one area that has been completely forgotten and ignored by this government is the wool industry. Yes, there's a pittance for the shearing industry, but the wool industry itself and those people who work in the supply chain of the wool industry have been completely ignored. One particular wool buyer I was speaking to saw a 30 per cent decline in his income in the last year alone. Wool supplies are drying up as this Labor government decimates and destroys confidence in the great merino sheep industry of Australia. It's a disgrace, and I'll never stop fighting for our great sheep industry. (Time expired)