The Nationals WA have labelled the passage of Labor’s live sheep export ban through Federal Parliament this week a devastating decision for families, businesses and communities across regional WA.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love called the decision “a gut punch to regional WA.”
“Our livestock industry is the lifeblood of many regional communities, supporting thousands of jobs and injecting millions into our local economies. Many communities will struggle to survive without this industry,” Mr Love said.
“Despite this, the Federal Labor Government has stubbornly refused to listen to the pleas of thousands of West Australians and has rammed through an ideological ban that will devastate farming families and communities.”
This week, delegates from WA’s livestock sector visited Canberra in a last-ditch attempt to convince Federal MPs to oppose Labor’s ban.
“The Keep the Sheep campaign presented a petition with more than 63,000 signatures opposing the ban, yet the Labor Party turned their back on hardworking WA families in a political decision aimed at winning more votes in Melbourne and Sydney,” Mr Love said.
“Every single Labor representative from WA should be ashamed of their actions in Parliament this week. You were elected to represent your electorate and WA, and you have sold us out.”
Mr Love also slammed the Federal Labor Government for guillotining debate in the Senate last night.
“When you are making a decision that will impact the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people, the least you can do is listen to their concerns and respect Parliamentary process.
“Just like the WA Labor party has done with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and the Firearms Act, Federal Labor has shown they are drunk on power by gagging debate on this important issue.”
Deputy Leader and Member for Roe Peter Rundle said the decision would be particularly damaging in his electorate, which represented the majority of WA’s sheep industry.
“The impact of this ban will extend far beyond live export and have significant repercussions across our entire sheep industry,” Mr Rundle said.
“To make this cruel decision when farmers are already experiencing collapsing prices and an incredibly dry season is heartless and shows Labor just doesn’t care about regional WA.”
Mr Rundle said it was “another nail in the coffin” for regional communities under Labor.
“While WA Labor is closing down our timber industry and running roughshod over our fishing sector with their contentious new marine parks, the Federal Government is waging war on our farmers.
“The only way to reverse this ban and support our farming communities is to get rid of Labor from State and Federal Parliament, and WA voters will have the chance to do that in 2025.”
