Major split in the Labor Party on agriculture policy threatens rainbow coalition

10/09/10

There is a major split in the Labor Party with the ALP Members for Page, Fremantle and Lyon all supporting a proposed motion, when Parliament resumes to ban live cattle exports, despite the Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke telling the NFF Congress earlier this week that the Labor Party fully supports the live export trade of cattle.

The Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb today called on the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard to clarify whether the Minister for Agriculture is right and the Labor Party supports the live export industry or whether the move by the three ALP Members to ban the industry is now official Labor policy.

The ABC Country Hour reports The Member for Page, Janelle Saffin ‘says she is not backing down’. Ms Saffin is quoted as saying “I am aware there are some people who don’t want it done.”

“It is a simple question. Which policy is the ‘real’ Labor policy?” Mr Cobb asked.

“The Greens Leader and Deputy Prime Minister of the Rainbow Coalition, Bob Brown’s policy is to ban the live export trade.

Mr Cobb said he assumes the Labor Independents, Windsor and Oakeshott support the live export industry but he wasn’t sure exactly where they would stand.

“The Coalition has made it very plain – we support regional Australia and vital agricultural industries like the live export trade of cattle and we will not be supporting any ban.

“At a time major welfare advancements have been made in the industry it is ridiculous that the Labor Party is prepared to destroy a multi-billion industry which supports our cattle industry in Northern Australia and provides vital protein and food security for our northern neighbours.

Mr Cobb said he was alert and alarmed that the Labor Party was letting the Greens faction in the Rainbow Coalition dictate agriculture policy.

“Given the Labor Party’s new found interest in regional Australia we expect the Prime Minister to clarify exactly what is the Labor Party’s live cattle export policy.