Live Sheep Export

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of South Australian sheep producers. Will the minister follow my lead in standing up for South Australian sheep producers and condemn the federal Labor government's decision to phase out live sheep exports by 2028?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:31): I could argue that it is not a straightforward question. I don't accept the premise of the question, given that she was referring to her own leadership; however, I wouldn't do something like that in this place. The topic of live exports by sea of sheep is a federal matter. The federal government took it as an election commitment to both of the last two federal elections. In both of the last two elections, the federal Labor Party went to those elections with a commitment to phase out live sheep exports by sea.

Over this, I think, past weekend, the Australian government has announced that the export of live sheep by sea will end on 1 May 2028. My advice from the federal minister's office is that trade can continue until this date without any additional restrictions and that the prohibition does not apply to other livestock export industries such as cattle, nor does it apply to live sheep exported by air. That is consistent with previous advice I have had from the federal minister.

One of the letters I wrote, certainly in my first year as minister—I don't recall the exact date—to the federal minister was in regard to live sheep export and the concerns that were being held at that time that it would include export by air. It is also worth pointing out that the last live sheep export ship to leave a South Australian port, according to my information, was in 2018, so it is six years since there has been live sheep export from South Australian ports. Since then, there have been exports via air, mainly breeding stock.