❓ Mr Rundle questions the Premier about delays in the $20 million federal support package for the sheep industry, highlighting the closure of Beaufort River Meats due to livestock shortages. The Premier deflects blame, attributing the live sheep export ban to the federal Liberal Party.

Sheep industry84.Mr Peter Rundleto the Premier:I refer to the government's announcement of a $20 million federal support package for the sheep industry. Applications opened over six months ago and the program was significantly oversubscribed, yet businesses are still waiting for payments. On the same day as the announcement of grants was made, Beaufort River Meats confirmed that it is shutting due to livestock shortages. Did the government warn the Commonwealth that delays, uncertainty and declining sheep numbers would threaten Western Australia's processing capacity and what response did it receive?

Mr Roger Cook replied:I thank the member for the question. It is interesting that on the same day that we put out a press release announcing the successful applicants for this project, those on the other side say that it has taken too long.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Roger Cook:We are so gratified that they are watching our press releases so closely.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Mr Roger Cook:Having announced it yesterday afternoon, I think it is a little bit rich for them to now claim that it is taking too long to get them their money.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am calling you for the first time. Do not continue to yell out at the Premier when he is responding to a question from your party.Mr Roger Cook:The banning of live sheep exports was not a decision of this government. It was not a decision that we supported, but it has been the subject of two elections hence and they both delivered damning indictments of the performance of those opposite and what they offered the people of Western Australia. We have known this has been coming for some time, because it was the former federal Leader of the Liberal Party who originally took to the Federal Parliament the bill to ban live sheep exports. It was the former federal Leader of the Liberal Party who pioneered and championed this particular process, which members opposite are now lamenting.We will continue to support WA farmers by assisting the Commonwealth to distribute these funds and to make sure that they get into the hands of those who need them. We will not be lectured by those on the other side, because they started this process that they are now lamenting. Sheep industry