It has been more than four months since we witnessed the shocking cruelty of 60,000 sheep suffering on board the Awassi Express in the height of the searing Middle East summer.
Overnight, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has confirmed Australia's largest live sheep exporter, Emanuel Exports, has lost its exporting licence following a license suspension and review.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud must stand up today to explain what the Turnbull Government’s plan is for the live sheep export industry.
The Turnbull Government’s messy handling of the live sheep controversy is hurting our sheep farmers.
Labor has been upfront about our phase out plan and has also committed to developing a Strategic Red Meat Industry Plan to help sheep meat producers transition to new business and market models.
Instead of articulating a clear course of action like Labor did, this dysfunctional and divided Turnbull Government has failed to provide clear guidance causing suffering for sheep farmers and others working in the supply chain.
The fact is, the Australian community feels betrayed because Turnbull Government Ministers feigned anger in response to the 60 Minutes footage but have not acted transparently and have not reached out to sheep farmers.
Labor is trying to achieve the phase out plan quicker with its amendments to the Government’s penalties for breaches bill currently before the Parliament. But the Turnbull Government’s refusal to bring the matter to a vote is yet another sign that Malcolm Turnbull does not have the support of coalition members.
It’s clear this Government has stopped governing and have been overtaken by division and chaos. It’s not good enough.
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