THE Federal Government yesterday shocked many in the cattle industry when it announced it had done a deal with the Greens to overhaul the country’s environmental laws.
Murray Watt
The shocking part of the deal was that virtually no detail had been given about what the new laws will mean for ongoing agricultural practices before they passed the senate to be put into legislation.
Another shocking factor for business groups, both agricultural and non-agricultural, was that they were expecting more negotiation with the Coalition and less of a rushed path through to legislation. A deal with the Greens was worst-case scenario for many.
As shocking as yesterday’s deal may be, it should come as no surprise to the cattle industry.
The Labor Government has shown contempt for agriculture since it was elected in 2022, passing laws make it harder for businesses and limiting the industry’s ability to have its say on legislation.
Shortly after it was elected, the Labor Government announced it had plans phase out the live sheep export industry. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then-agriculture minister Murray Watt travelled to Beef 2024 in Rockhampton, enjoyed the industry’s hospitality and made speeches wherever they could without taking any questions.
They then flew over to Perth and abruptly announced the end of the live sheep export industry.
The Government then brought in new climate reporting rules, that are set to cost the industry millions and impact almost all producers. The laws were passed into legislation almost un-noticed by the industry, as they were waved through with support from Teals and Greens.
As Beef Central reported, many large producers who are set to be directed impacted by climate reporting were unaware of the new laws six months after they had passed.
Then in July this year, the Government announced it will loosen the requirements for United States beef to come into Australia – after pressure from the US President Donald Trump and the US cattle industry.
Again, the local Australian cattle industry was barely consulted and still has concerns that equivalent standards are not in place in the US.
As Australian Live Exporters’ Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said at the Livexchange conference in Perth this week no amount of science or reasoning was going to change Labor’s mind about live sheep exports, “it was politics, it was politics, it was politics.”
Where to now for environmental laws?
As this separate story in Beef Central today highlights, there are lessons to be learned out of the Keep the Sheep campaign that ensued to try and save the live sheep export industry.
While it ultimately failed in getting the policy repealed, it demonstrated widespread community support for both agriculture and the live export industry. The industry plans to use that support as a blueprint to secure the future of live cattle exports.
Some have suggested that the cattle industry needs to take a similar approach on environmental issues like the laws that were passed yesterday. Although it must be said some producers have been trying to get on the front foot in recent years.
Environmental groups, such as the Australian Conservation Foundation, who have largely pushed the Government to reform the environmental laws have been spending a lot of money and time pushing their agenda both in Canberra and through advertising and media campaigns – similar to the RSPCA with live export.
But the Keep the Sheep campaign demonstrated that support for these groups opposed to the industry can be overstated and support for agriculture can be understated.