'This isn't the end': WA livestock truckie and 'Keep the Sheep' leader Ben Sutherland's warning to Labor after live export ban passes Senate
With this legislation, the Albanese government is fulfilling an election promise it made in 2019 and then again in 2022. On Monday night, Mr Sutherland joined the delegation of WA farm industry representatives to lobby in Canberra in a last ditch effort to sway the outcome of the decision after months of campaigning against the ban.
“They’re s**t scared of us mate… that’s why they rushed this through and didn’t want to do an inquiry … we’ve still got some tricks up our sleeve,” he said. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan condemned the newly passed law, saying it was a sign the government had “sold out our farmers to activist groups” in exchange for preferences at elections.
When the legislation was introduced, Mr Watt said the policy was allowing the Australian sheep industry to “plan effectively” for the future.