Trade

WAFarmers sets out 13 killer arguments to keep the live sheep trade.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s inquiry into the phase out of the live sheep export trade is once again disingenuous. Mr Littleproud said Labor has allowed just one week for submissions and has requested the committee report back in just over two weeks from now, by June 21, despite two public hearings in both Western Australia and Canberra.

Yamba Welding and Engineering celebrated its 50th anniversary ... one of the Clarence Valley’s premier export businesses ... started in 1974 by Bill Collingburn in his garage and has grown to become Australia’s go to supplier for premium quality, high performance vessels, for the Australian Defence Force, Border Force, Marine Rescue, Coast Guard and the SES.

Production in Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors remains on track to be the third highest on record in 2024-25, supported by an improved seasonal outlook ... Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville said this quarter’s Agricultural Commodities and Australian Crop Report show an expected improvement in agriculture following drier conditions seen in 2023-24.

Australia’s farmers are expected to plant 23.55 million hectares to winter crops this year – up more than three per cent on 2023 – despite a mixed start to the season across the country, Rabobank says in its 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Outlook ... This year’s winter crop planting – representing a 3.6 per cent increase on 2023/24 though down 1.8 per cent on the five-year average...

The National Farmers’ Federation’s Members Council, comprising Australia’s state and commodity agricultural organisations, has today carried three motions: 1. That the NFF no longer has confidence in the Albanese Government to act in the interests of Australian agriculture ... “Farmers, fishers and foresters feel they are being treated with contempt as this Government pursues its single-minded policy agenda": David Jochinke.

Yesterday in Canberra, the WAFarmers and the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) joined a walk out of the federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt during the budget breakfast, with industry leaders wearing a ‘Keep the Sheep’ tee shirt. The Minister was not impressed ... The farmers might be irrelevant to the ALP, but the voting public are suspicious of governments that are seen to sell out the farmers that grow the grain used to breed the geese that feed the workers that mine the gold that the government uses to buy votes.

On 14 May 2024, the Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget. The key themes of the Budget were addressing cost of living pressures and a ‘future made in Australia.’ ... Waterfind has analysed the May 2024 Budget, and has provided commentary from a ‘water’ perspective on the key initiatives, funding and changes from previous budgets.

In an unprecedented move at today's Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast, the National Farmers' Federation and multiple peak agricultural bodies walked out during the Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt's address. Together they demonstrated to the Minister he had crossed a line by announcing a radical 4-year timeline to banning live sheep exports on Saturday.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the federal Labor government’s decision to ban live sheep sea exports could have dire consequences for Victorian farmers and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the entire agricultural industry.  VFF President Emma Germano said the move has sent shockwaves across the industry and has left many local farmers questioning the motive of our decision makers.  

The export of live sheep by sea from Australia will end on 1 May 2028, with legislation enacting the phase out to be introduced in this term of Parliament ... While the live sheep export industry has been in decline for many years, down from $415m in 2002-03 to $77m in 2022-23, the demand for processed sheepmeat both here and overseas has been rapidly expanding. This presents an opportunity for more processing to occur onshore in WA ...

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) says farmers have been left shocked after Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced a radical 4-year timeline to phase out live sheep exports ... "I’d say to farmers – stand tall and don’t lose hope. We’re proud of the vital role we play in feeding and clothing people all around the world. We will not allow this Government's sucking up to activists rob us of that pride": Tony Mahar, NFF CEO.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said a future Coalition Government will maintain the live sheep trade if it wins the next election, after Labor announced its live sheep export shutdown timeframe, with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt revealing a $107 million plan to ‘transition’ the industry by May 1, 2028 ... Warranine park farmer Ellen Walker from Brookton, WA, went to two meetings with the independent panel in Kondinin and York and said she was devastated by Minister Watt’s announcement today.

NSW Farmers has condemned the Federal Government’s catastrophic ban on live sheep exports by sea as it released a four-year plan to transition away from the live sheep trade ... According to an announcement made by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt ... Australia’s live sheep exports by sea trade will be phased out by 1 May 2028...

What activists want Watt delivers. Watt farmers fear. What's next on Watt's hit list. What to do with Watt. All questions Western Australian farmers are now asking after last week's decision to move ahead with the live export ban. On the hookup when the Minister announced his plan, Murray Watt is quick to call me out when I questioned his motives claiming I was being personal.

The global dairy market may experience a slower price recovery than previously anticipated, particularly as China shows a reduced need for dairy imports, Rabobank says in recently-released sector research. But, despite this, the overall market outlook remains positive, the global specialist agribusiness bank says in its Q2 Global Dairy Quarterly, titled Searching for Equilibrium.

Recently, Australia's trade relationship with the Middle East strengthened by the establishment of an MOU between the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry and  Dubai Chamber and the launch of the Dubai Chamber office in Sydney, Australia. This is testament to the strong collaboration and opportunity to strengthen future collaboration between Australia and the Middle East, with a hub in Dubai.

Geoff Pearson. Two weeks ago 300 farmers from across the South West convened an urgent drought meeting to address what is one of the driest seasons experienced in living memory across what is traditionally the wettest part of Western Australia. It’s at times like these that the State and Federal governments need to step up and support farmers to rectify where they have made things worse through past policy mistakes.