An additional $32.7m has been announced for processing capacity grants and community wellbeing support. Image: Bruce/stock.adobe.com
President of the Livestock and Rural Transport Association (LRTAWA), Ben Sutherland, has expressed his frustration at the federal government over the looming live sheep export ban.
He says the government is refusing to grasp the reality of their decision to ban live sheep exports, and doesn’t fully comprehend the impact the ban will have on transport companies and their communities.
His comments follow an announcement by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Julie Collins, that a further $32.7 million would be made available for processing capacity grants and community wellbeing support.
“No amount of money will overcome the mental toll this decision has taken on our small towns and businesses,” said Sutherland.
“I have distressed people contacting me about liquidating their equipment because the work is drying up, knowing full well that in the current climate they will not realise its true value.
“This announcement is a feel-good, cynical attempt to give the impression the government is genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of people affected by the phase-out.”
Sutherland believes if the government was genuinely concerned, it should have engaged in open and honest consultation with those affected – from the outset.
“They would have listened to the evidence and taken an unbiased approach. Instead, the very people that the government claims to be concerned about were subjected to a whitewash panel, a sham House of Representatives inquiry and guillotined debate in the Senate,” he said.
“Throwing more money at this issue is not going to reverse our opposition to the live sheep export phase-out.
“The only acceptable outcome is to repeal the legislation and allow our members, farmers and others in the supply chain to continue to provide a first-class product, using best practice techniques and standards, to countries that value our live sheep.”
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