RENEWED calls to ban the live export trade have been dismissed as a headline grabbing political stunt.
North Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald said a private members bill from Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie aimed to wind up live exports in three years was at an desperate attempt for him to remain relevant to his Tasmanian constituents.
“As a nation, we all saw the crippling impacts of Labor’s live cattle ban, and many of our graziers are still recovering,” Sen Macdonald said.
“Rather than pander to the interests of a few noisy extreme animal libertarians who clearly have no clue about trade and the value of the export market to our national economy, Mr Wilkie’s time would be better spent looking at ways to bolster his own state’s export industries.”
Mr Wilkie said his latest attempt to try to phase-out Australia’s live animal exports trade was aimed at keeping the controversial issue “alive” politically. The private members bill on Monday represented his sixth legislative proposal to do with the trade in six years.
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Senator Macdonald said the most Australians understood the efforts being untaken to ensure the welfare of the animals was the highest priority.
“Australia’s live export industry leads the way in terms of animal welfare standards, and it is ludicrous to suggest that by banning it here, we will somehow be able to influence what is happening in other countries,” he said.
“The value of the live export trade to our national economy, particularly in the north, cannot be underestimated, and it is naïve of Mr Wilkie to think that his efforts to keep this issue ‘alive’ will be seen as anything other than a publicity stunt.”