WA Labor's Live Export Deception Plan

There should be a "WA DUOPOLY LET DOWN LEADERBOARD" to keep score of every time Labor & the Liberals let us down...it'd be ticking over like a fast forward counter.


So apparently according to Darren West MLC (Lab), WALabor is not anti Live Export, nor anti ESCAS, nor is it trying to halt Live Export.

Here's a handy copy & paste for Darren...

Mr McGowan said on Sunday, January 27 (2013) when officially launching WA Labor's campaign that:  “You have to take all the steps you can to create more jobs in Australia, so that's why I'm talking more about processing meat in Australia as opposed to overseas”. 

Here's another simple copy & paste
At the WA Labor Conference in July 2011, a momentous Animal Welfare motion introduced by Lisa Baker Member for Maylands was passed.  The section covering live exports reads as follows:On Live Export:
64. Labor recognises that:
a) There are strong economic, job and animal welfare reasons for transitioning from the live export trade to domestic processing of animals for local consumption and the chilled and frozen meat trade.
b) While the live export trade continues, livestock for slaughter from Australia will be treated humanely while being transported and in the country of destination.65. To this end, Labor will:
a) Require that livestock be transported, unloaded, held and slaughtered in accordance with OIE Guidelines and stunned using appropriate humane restraints immediately before slaughter, and that there will be independent monitoring and enforcement of these standards.
b) Ensure adequate transitional arrangements are in place to facilitate the expansion of a chilled and frozen meat trade.
c) Develop and implement an alternative and sustainable economic base for the pastoral industry in the north of Western Australia.
d) Work with the Commonwealth government, industry and importing countries to promote the trade in chilled meat from animals humanely transported and slaughtered in Australia.
e) Pursue, as part of trade negotiations, the elimination of policies of foreign governments, such as subsidies and tariffs, which distort competitive neutrality between the meat processing and the live export industries.
f) Promote Australian chilled and frozen meat in potential new markets through intensive international promotional campaigns, such as the emerging markets in China..

Oops...

Promote Chilled in new markets...but no promotion for Live Export in new markets.

Develop, implement an alternative for the pastoral industry in the north of WA...not ADD another option but implement an ALTERNATIVE.

Ensure adequate TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS not add more options for producers to supply either or both markets...CHILLED is the aim, LIVE EXPORT is the Target for abolition.

Nothing to support ESCAS approved markets.
Nothing to promote ESCAS approved markets.
Nothing to create new markets for ESCAS approved supply
Nothing for ESCAS approved markets in the way for intensive international promotional campaigns unlike chilled.
Develop alternatives for pastoralists, not add additional options for them to choose from

But look closely very closely...the passed motion clearly states that Labor recognises There are strong economic, job and animal welfare reasons for transitioning from the live export trade to domestic processing of animalsGet that? They recognise that there are strong economic, job and animal welfare reasons for TRANSITIONING FROM LIVE EXPORT TO CHILLED.

WA Labor is anti live trade, just like Julia Gillard and Federal Labor was when they introduced the atrocious Live Export Ban.

They say there's strong economic reasons yet cannot and refuse to say how WA can slaughter & process an additional 2 MILLION SHEEP and sell them overseas as chilled. No mention how this is logistically possible when there isn't enough abattoirs, equipment, processing plants, staff and other supporting infrastructure to process an additional 2 million head of sheep (in WA alone) and 1.3 million head of cattle.

No economic case, strong or otherwise...just a vague hollow sentiment to placate the green leaning rusted on Labor voters.

Who pays to build all the new abattoirs, pays for the extra staff that don't currently exist or where the chilled carcases are processed, chilled and stored. Who pays?

No surprise there is no economic case at all because it would have to set out how its going to provide primary producers with the same farmgate price or better and how it will be a similar cost or cheaper for overseas buyers and how it actually is handled properly overseas.

DO NOT BE FOOLED, WA LABOR USE THE WORD "TRANSITION" - THEY'RE TRYING TO BAN THE LIVE EXPORT TRADE, NOT COMPLIMENT IT, NOT ADD EXTRA OPTIONS FOR PRODUCERS. THEY'RE PLANNING TO HALT THE LIVE EXPORT TRADE.

They have made absolutely no mention whatsoever about the successful export of many millions of sheep & cattle that have fully met the ESCAS arrangements. None, not one word. Despite the Live Trade have in excess of 97% ESCAS compliance, better than here with the road rules, illicit drugs or many other day to day facts.

WA LABOR = ANTI LIVE EXPORT.

Now when you look at WA Labor's integrity on the matter, look at the current smokescreen from one Labor stalwart who needs to defend Labor's indefensible position to keep his $156,000 salary intact.