Federal Nationals' Leader David Littleproud said an unprecedented walk-out by the National Farmers' Federation and other industry representatives during Agriculture Minister's Murray Watt post-Budget speech is embarrassing and entirely of Labor's own making.
Representatives from the NFF, Wool Producers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, Australian Livestock Export Council, WA Farmers, AgForce Queensland, and NSW Farmers walked out when the Minister started talking about Labor's live sheep export ban.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin told Minister Watt his decision to ban live sheep exports was "absolutely shameful."
"Time and time again, this Federal Government has failed Australia's food and fibre producers - and now they are switching off markets for farmers, and food for hungry people.
"What's next, and can we continue to feed and clothe the nation if the decision-making keeps deteriorating?"
NFF President David Jochinke said farmers turned their backs on the Minister, just as he has turned his back on them.
"The walkout represents what this government did to agriculture when it pursued this ideological agenda, disregarding the real-world implications this ban will have on farmers, communities, our trading relationships, and animal welfare outcomes.
"This week the Government has cancelled a viable and important industry, what industry will be next on the chopping block?" he said.
Mr Littleproud said he was dismayed that instead of listening, Minister Watt joked about the walk-out, telling the audience, "just as well I didn't talk about it earlier in the speech."
"Australia's farmers are in despair and desperate for help, but they are getting treated with contempt by an out-of-touch Labor Government and an Agriculture Minister who couldn't give a rat's about the industry," Mr Littleproud said.
"The walk-out by our nation's farmers - those who clothe and feed us – was an act of frustration and a reaction to a government who won't listen and doesn't understand how agriculture works."
