Latest news with #Littleproud
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Nationals call for Senate inquiry into decision to resume US beef imports
The Nationals are pushing for an inquiry into the federal government's decision to resume US beef imports, claiming the government ignored its own scientific advice when it made the decision. Last week it was announced biosecurity controls on US beef would be lifted, including beef sourced from Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the US. Nationals leader and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says the Coalition wants the Senate inquiry to provide transparency around the decision. It wants to get cross-party support from the Greens to launch an inquiry by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee. Mr Littleproud said the government's decision to allow all US beef imports for the first time since 2019 was about "getting Anthony Albanese a meeting with President Trump without looking at the proper scientific reasons nor process". He said an inquiry was necessary after it was revealed an Inspector-General of Biosecurity review released in March called for independent scientific advice on import risk assessments. The Inspector-General of Biosecurity is an independent, statutory officer appointed by the government, a role held by former agriculture veterinarian Lloyd Klumpp. Dr Klumpp's March review found the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) "should review the role of the scientific advisory group focusing on … expanding the group's role to provide technical oversight for non-regulated import risk analyses". He also found import risk analyses were "more developed and consistent in plant biosecurity compared to animal biosecurity". His review noted that if the scientific advisory group provided more high-level technical oversight it would address concerns raised by stakeholders involved with imports and achieve trade outcomes that aligned with the Biosecurity Act, thus safeguarding Australia's biosecurity status. Mr Littleproud accused the government of ignoring its own independent biosecurity advice, despite DAFF accepting that recommendation. He said, in a briefing, the government was unable to offer any information about its import protocols or how the department would mitigate biosecurity risk. "On the day they announced they're going to allow this beef to come in, they had not done the work to provide the [biosecurity] protocol on the way in which that beef could be bought in this country," Mr Littleproud said. "They could not tell me the traceability model that they would have for these cattle that originated in Mexico," he said. "That says to me the department is catching up on the [government's] deal." Labor's Agriculture Minister Julie Collins was contacted for comment. Over the weekend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused the Nationals of politicising biosecurity. "The agency that looked at this, the department, independently of government, this wasn't a political decision," Mr Albanese said. "They looked at it [and] said they've satisfied the requirements." The Greens were contacted for comment. A spokesperson said they're yet to see the proposed inquiry details.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Social media companies have a ‘responsibility' to protect children
Nationals Leader David Littleproud says there is 'educational benefits' from YouTube for children. The government will be adding YouTube to its social media ban for children under the age of 16. Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia the social media companies have a 'responsibility' to protect children on their platforms.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson brands majority of Liberals 'gutless' and 'cowards' after net zero motion fails on Senate floor
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has branded the majority of Liberals as "gutless" and "cowards" after her urgency motion on net zero was overwhelmingly rejected, with many Coalition members abstaining from the vote. Ms Hanson's motion was held on Monday afternoon and sought to place additional pressure on the Coalition to dump the initiative. However, it was rejected 39 votes to seven. Speaking to Sky News on Monday night, Ms Hanson commended the handful of Coalition members who backed her and scolded the two Liberals who sided with Labor and the Greens – Jane Hume and Andrew McLaughlin. 'The rest of them were out of the Chamber, they abstained from voting. They're gutless and they're cowards because they couldn't put their name to it and they didn't want to,' Ms Hanson said. 'I take my hat off to Matt Canavan and to (Ralph) Babet, and also to Alex Antic, who actually supported the motion.' Labor, the vast majority of the Coalition, the crossbench and the Greens all voted against Ms Hanson's motion. Speaking about why she put forward the initiative, Ms Hanson said One Nation "are fighting for the Australians out there, the families, the small businesses, the farming sector, everyone that's doing it tough because net zero is seeing them go under with high electricity costs." "Every family out there - everyone who's watching this program - knows that the electricity costs have gone up by hundreds of percent under this farce of this net zero ... We're destroying our economy, our manufacturing industry, businesses, they're going overseas." Earlier, Nationals Leader David Littleproud claimed the Coalition's decision on net zero is likely still a 'couple of months' away but that he wanted to validate the eventual decision with 'some hard economics". Speaking to Sky News, Mr Littleproud assured Chris Kenny that the Coalition were 'not going to kick [net zero] down the road,' but said there would be no imminent call – instead waiting for the findings of a Coalition review into the policy. Mr Littleproud said a review into the net zero by 2050 policy will be led by Senator Matt Canavan, whose background in economics would be leveraged to best inform the partyroom. 'I expect in the coming couple of months we should be able to leverage off that independent economic analysis so that our party room will get to a position,' he told Chris Kenny. ' Matt's been the most consistent and passionate about this, but he's an economist, and I think what we want to do is draw on his expertise, but also others in this room, like Ross Caddel .' Mr Littleproud said if the National Party arrives at a position that 'changes our outlook', it would be honest to the Australian people about why and 'what it looks like in moving forward'. 'One of the reasons why the National Party left the Coalition [was] because we couldn't get a guarantee after the election about nuclear energy being part of the grid moving forward,' Mr Littleproud said. 'We want to be sensible about what our energy grid looks like because we're the ones that are bearing the burden of this. Even [in] my electorate, I'm seeing communities torn up, I am seeing families torn apart because of this reckless race to all renewables.' Mr Littleproud said he was not going to be drawn into a timeline for a decision by Barnaby Joyce's Private Member's Bill, which seeks to scrap the net zero goal from Australian economic policies. 'I understand the eagerness of Barnaby Joyce to bring forward a Private Member's Bill. That's his right, but I have to lead a partyroom,' he said. ' I've got to bring everybody with us, but I don't intend to kick it down the road. I think we'll get that information, and as a group, I think we'll to a decision sooner rather than later.'
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Coalition calls for Senate inquiry after Labor backflips on US beef exports ban
The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip to allow US beef exports into Australia, citing the 'concerning' timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims the link to ongoing tariff discussions, stating the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. However Nationals Leader David Littleproud says an inquiry is required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. The probe would look at the threat of importing beef which has potentially been exposed to diseases, the risk assessment taken by the government, standards and protocol for US beef imports and the risk posed by future outbreaks. 'The timing of this decision, just as the Prime Minister seeks to obtain a meeting with the US President, is concerning,' Mr Littleproud said. 'Our biosecurity cannot be a bargaining tool. The protocol outlining the import conditions, only released today, provide little detail on the science and the traceability requirements.' Nationals senator Matt Canavan said an inquiry was needed to 'fully understand the urgency and advice behind the government's decision'. 'It's imperative we understand what impact Labor's decision will have on Australia's reputation as having the world's best and safest beef,' he said. 'Our biosecurity standards are world-leading and our beef producers deserve to know whether they are being sacrificed at the political alter.' Speaking during question time on Monday, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Labor had 'not compromised on biosecurity at all, in any way, shape or form,' and said Mr Littleproud a former agriculture minister, would be aware of the review processes. 'He would know about the industry engagement that has occurred throughout this process,' she said. 'The other thing that he would know is that the US and Australia traceability systems are equivalent and that the decision has been taken based on science … and of course all food imported into Australia must be safe and compliant with our food standards. 'The member opposite would know that the department's security assessment is done in the usual manner as it is done for every other imports into this country.' This comes after Trade Minister Don Farrell mistakenly said US President Donald Trump had directly asked Mr Albanese to remove the ban on US beef exports. Moments later Mr Albanese clarified that the issue was not directly raised in either of the three phone calls he's had with Mr Trump. Instead, he said Mr Trump had made the statement during his Liberation Day tariff announcement. Announcing the levies, which hit a 10 per cent levy on general Australian imports in April, Mr Trump singled out Australia's treatment of US beef. Originally published as Coalition calls for Senate inquiry after Labor backflips on US beef exports ban
West Australian
24-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Agriculture minister says decision to lift US beef biosecurity restrictions based on expert review
Nationals leader David Littleproud has accused Anthony Albanese of 'trading away' Australia's US beef import ban to appease President Donald Trump amid his tariffs regime. Mr Littleproud has demanded Albanese Government rule out any weakening of biosecurity restrictions after it was confirmed on Thursday that Australia would allow the import of beef from cattle raised in Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. 'I want to see the science. I'm suspicious by the speed in which this has been done,' Mr Littleproud told the ABC, calling for an independent panel to review the decision. 'I think it's important that the government is very transparent about the science. 'It looks as though it has been traded away to appease Donald Trump — and that's what we don't want.' Mr Littleproud revealed Agriculture minister Julie Collins had informed him of the decision on Wednesday afternoon. Ms Collins says the decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef into Australia was based on a 'scientific assessment' but has refused to release the findings. A ban on beef from cows raised and slaughtered in the US was lifted in 2019, however, in 2020 the US requested the biosecurity import controls be lifted on cattle raised elsewhere. While the trade restriction had been a key grievance of the Trump administration, Trade Minister Don Farrell said there was 'nothing suspicious' about the timing. 'It's been a 10-year process and as a result of that process by the officials at the Agriculture Department, we have decided that it is appropriate now,' Senator Farrell said. 'This is not a process that's started since the election of President Trump. It goes back a very, very long period of time. 'There's nothing suspicious about this at all.' Ms Collins on Thursday said she was satisfied that the US supply chain systems are 'equivalent' with Australia's and vowed a comprehensive department review had been undertaken across the US. 'My department has done a proper assessment along the entire supply chain,' she said. 'My department is confident that the systems in the United States are equivalent to Australian systems in terms of biosecurity assurances, and that this has been a science-based assessment. 'They've gone along the entire supply chain, including in abattoirs and cutting houses in the US to ensure the safety and security of any beef along the supply chain that they prevent in Australia. 'Our biosecurity risk assessment process is very robust.' Ms Collins says she is open to give Opposition and industry briefings on the decision to lift biosecurity import controls on US beef but says it would be 'unusual' to make the reasoning public. 'That is not what is done, usually. I am happy for experts to brief the Opposition and to brief industry further if people have more questions'. Liberal senator James Paterson called on the Prime Minister to be transparent about the scientific findings. 'The Prime Minister himself has said that we couldn't relax the restrictions on the importation of US beef because of serious biosecurity concerns. So, if the government has found some way of dealing with that issue… then they should say so,' he said. Senator Farrell said he hasn't contacted his Trump administration counterpart, Jamieson Greer, regarding the changes to beef import rules. told Sky News 'I can't read the minds of the Americans, particularly not President Trump,' he said. 'My job and the job of the Albanese government is to prosecute the argument with the Americans until such time as they realise that these tariffs on Australia are a mistake.' Senator Farrell said he'll continue mounting an argument against the US imposing tariffs on Australia on the merits of the existing trading relationship, which is overwhelmingly in favour of the US. Australia has been hit with 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, the same as every other country except the UK which faces 25 per cent, along with the 10 per cent baseline 'reciprocal tariff' despite having had a free trade deal with the US in place for 20 years.
