Live Sheep Export

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of sheep production in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On Saturday, the federal Labor government announced that the live sheep export trade will be shut down from 1 May 2028. In regard to this decision, Warranine Park farmer Ellen Walker has said, and I quote:

This announcement is like having a punch in the guts when you are already down.

We are coming off the back of an extremely dry summer with very poor sheep prices. We have had to carry extra stock because if they are slaughter quality, the supply chain is full, and if they are store quality, there is no confidence or feed for feedlotters to want to purchase.

Ms Walker said that she currently has over 200 sheep that she is going to have to destroy because there is nowhere for them to go. A YP sheep farming family for over 145 years, the Daniel family, have recently pulled the pin on producing lambs, citing reduced returns and excess paperwork.

According to the Victorian Farmers Federation, New South Wales Farmers federation, Livestock SA, and AgForce in Queensland, producers in all four states now face the awful scenario where some classes of sheep have no commercial value due to an oversupply of livestock. They blame the collapse in market confidence in part on federal Labor's ill-advised policy to phase-out live sheep exports. WA's own Labor agricultural minister said about the banning of live sheep exports, and I quote:

This phase out will negatively impact our regional communities and the livelihoods of many—our Government has been consistent and clear from the start we don't support it.

My questions to the minister are:

1. With the supply chains already full and when the cost of doing business is already at breaking point, does the minister agree that, by supporting the federal government's position on live sheep export, she will be financially condemning farmers right here in South Australia?

2. What steps has the minister taken to ensure that South Australian sheep producers are protected and supported in the inevitable oversupply of sheep that will affect the domestic market and make local grazing unprofitable for producers across this state?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for her question. She has, in part, answered some of her question in her preamble. There are many factors affecting the sheep industry at the moment. The phase-out of the live sheep export industry by sea in four years' time will, I think, be seen within the context that is appropriate. There are many other factors that are currently affecting the sheep industry.

The federal government has announced a package to assist during the transition: $107 million over five years. Much of that, of course, will be directed towards states with an active live sheep export industry, particularly Western Australia, but some of that will also assist South Australia. For example, there is money, $27 million, to enhance demand within Australia and internationally for sheep products. In terms of assisting with demand, any measures such as that will of course have a positive impact on South Australia as well.

I would also like to take issue, however, with the way the question has been framed. The South Australian government, and myself as minister, are neither supporting nor opposing the federal government's decision, because it is a decision that was taken by the then federal Labor opposition to two elections—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and then they received a mandate by being elected. It is a federal government decision. I have written to Minister Watt and I have had other interactions with—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —the federal minister about this matter and have been particularly keen to ensure that there are mitigation initiatives put in place, some of which Minister Watt outlined in his announcement over the weekend.