The future of more than 2,000 Western Australian jobs will be defended in Broome tomorrow when the Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman appears before a Senate Committee looking into aspects of the live export trade.
Mr Redman said the Liberal-National Government was committed to the future of the live export trade which was worth up $600million annually to Western Australia and generated thousands of jobs, including vital Aboriginal employment and skills programs.
The Minister said while the Federal Government's mishandling of the live-export trade, which culminated in the overnight shutdown of the industry in June, would be raised at the hearing; his main focus was to ensure the trade returned to normal and that adequate safeguards prevented a similar crisis in the future.
"WA dominates the Australian livestock export industry for sheep and is a major player in beef cattle. This is not accidental. Our geographic proximity to major markets coupled with freight advantage, ideal growing conditions for northern cattle, and our long history in sheep exports is key," he said.
Mr Redman said the specific terms of the Senate Committee were to look into animal welfare standards in Australia's live export markets.
"The Western Australian Government does not tolerate animal cruelty. But we also have no tolerance for rushed, ad-hoc and lazy Government decisions that throw industries, jobs and livelihoods on the scrapheap," he said.
The Minister said Australia was the world's number one livestock exporting nation and the only one investing financially in animal welfare improvements at end markets.
"I think that speaks volumes about our commitment to animal welfare, our commitment to the future of the industry, and our determination to work in partnership with our valued trading partners such as Indonesia", he said.
Minister's office - 9213 6700
Fast Facts on the Live Export Trade and Western Australia
WA supplies approximately 75 per cent of Australia's exports of live sheep, about 2.5 million head, which generates an export income up to $275million
WA supplies approximately 40 per cent of Australia's exports of live cattle, about 390,000 head were exported in 2009-10, which generates an export income up to $330million
There are 1,045 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in northern WA associated with the live export trade and 1,672 FTEs in southern WA (MLA 2007)
There are 12,924 jobs in the Australian live export industry with wages and salaries amounting to $987million (CIE 2011).
