Interview with Belinda Varischetti, ABC Country Hour

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC COUNTRY HOUR
TUESDAY, 15 JULY 2025

SUBJECTS: $139.7m sheep industry transition assistance package

BELINDA VARISCHETTI, HOST: Julie Collins, how far will this package go to assist industry transition out of the live sheep trade?

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: Well, this is obviously a significant package. It's $139.7 million. It's about ensuring that this money goes to where it needs to go. It's based on feedback from the industry and the sector, particularly today's announcement of the 97 odd million dollars that has been co-designed with industry to make sure that it's reaching industry, but importantly also to right along the supply chain. So, from the shearers to the land transport to, you know, farmers themselves as well as of course, the processes along the way. So, it's about making sure that we can increase the regional jobs in Western Australia from the sheep meat industry.

VARISCHETTI: What is your vision for the sheep industry here in WA?

COLLINS: Well, it's about a vibrant industry, and it's really about working with the industry about where they want to be in the next 10 to 20 years. And that's why part of the funding will go towards a long-term strategy for the sheep and the wool producer industry in Western Australia.

VARISCHETTI: In a leaked document in April, which came from the Federal Department of Agriculture, it revealed that producers can apply for $150,000 grants matched dollar for dollar for confinement feeding. Is that confirmed today?

COLLINS: Well, the details of each of the grants will be made public as those grant round open. We expect the vast majority of the first round of grants to open this calendar year, with money to flow this financial year. And the funding obviously for the transition package is really from the last six months right up until May 2028.

VARISCHETTI: Will there be a component of grants for producers that needs to be matched dollar for dollar?

COLLINS: There is some, but there's also some grants, there is a range of - there will be a range of grants available for farmers and producers in terms of particularly making sure that they're able to transition and that there's more ability to, you know, on farm, get ready for processing and to do their on farm finishing.

VARISCHETTI: And how fair is it to ask farmers losing income because of a Federal Government decision to match funding assistance dollar for dollar?

COLLINS: Well, this has been co-designed with industry. I mean, we met the transition advocate. My department met with over 300 people in Western Australia from the industry, and this is based on feedback from the industry in those 16 workshops. So, this has been co-designed with industry, and this is what industry are telling us, that is the best use of the funding.

VARISCHETTI: A report commissioned by seven Wheatbelt shires, a couple of years ago by a company called Econisis shows that the end of the live sheep trade by sea would have a potential impact on the economy in those seven shires alone of $128 million over 20 years. So, how can a total transition package for the entire industry of $139.7 million be adequate?

COLLINS: Well, obviously, this has been an industry that has been in decline. What you've seen is the sheep numbers in Western Australia decline for a whole range of reasons in recent years. If you look at the live export by sea last financial year it was around $41 million. So, this is a significant package of $139.7 million. It's about ensuring that this funding goes where it can be best utilised, right across the supply chain. And that's what we're announcing today has been listened to in terms of industry and the feedback that industry have provided us around the funding. We obviously added funding last time I was in Western Australia late last year, but we added an additional $32 million to the package.

VARISCHETTI: And did it cross your mind to increase the package again?

COLLINS: Well, we think $139.7 million is a significant transition package. We've obviously got the transition advocate who will continue to play a role here in Western Australia on the ground with industry and the sector about the implementation to make sure that this money goes to where it needs. What we want to do is see how this package rolls out.

VARISCHETTI: Now WA Farmers, the lobby group here in WA, says this is your second visit to WA, and your office refuses to alert the farming sector and farm leaders to your plans to visit, especially when you have a significant announcement like the one today. Why is that?

COLLINS: Well, this is actually my third or fourth visit since becoming a Minister to Western Australia. What I've done is listen carefully to industry and the sector. My department has obviously been meeting and holding those workshops here with industry, with over 300 people. And what we've done is we've listened to feedback. The industry and the sector was briefed about the details of the package prior to my announcing it today. We want to continue to engage with industry, as I do every time I'm in Western Australia.

VARISCHETTI: I guess they want that face-to-face communication, a relationship, I guess, the ag sector here in WA with the Federal Agriculture Minister. But there just doesn't seem to be an opportunity to have those face-to-face meetings when you're here in WA. In fact, several leaders were scrambling to get to Muchea today to have the chance to come face to face with you.

COLLINS: Well, I'm not sure which industry leaders you're talking about, but I engage regularly with primary producers when I'm in Western Australia. Each and every time I come, I obviously, of course, am also in contact with the State Minister on a regular basis, and we've got the transition advocate on the ground in Western Australia that industry have been able to talk to and contact. And we've been holding those workshops since earlier this year in relation to this package.

VARISCHETTI: What's your assessment of how the transition is progressing in WA at this point?

COLLINS: Well, obviously, we're at the beginning of the transition. I think the industry and the sector of what today's announcement does is show that we are listening to them and we are taking their feedback seriously. And the package that has been announced today and the details of it has been in response to industry, and it shows that we are listening as a government to them.

VARISCHETTI: And as far as the money actually flowing, what's the rollout plan? Because those grants come separately, is what you were saying earlier.

COLLINS: The different grant rounds? Yes, we expect most of the initial grant rounds to be open this calendar year, with money to flow this financial year and then more rounds in future financial years. But this is about making sure that we get the best value for it. And we've listened to industry in terms of the amounts of money, where the money is going, in terms of what sectors of the supply chain and obviously, the timing from here through to 2028, all of that money will be rolled out.

VARISCHETTI: And how confident are you that this package will actually keep sheep here in this state, maintain the industry here in WA?

COLLINS: Well, obviously, this package has always been about ensuring that there is a sheep industry in Western Australia, but also about allowing it to grow and thrive. As I've said, we've seen a decline in sheep numbers across Western Australia for quite a few years now. When I talk to the State Minister, what she wants to do is to see that turn around, see that decline, turn around. What we want to do is to make sure there's a sustainable industry and to work with industry to that aim here in Western Australia over the long term.

VARISCHETTI: And did your government take responsibility for the flock size here in WA declining so significantly over the last few years?

COLLINS: Well, the stock size reducing here in Western Australia has been to a range of factors. Primarily, what we know is market value and climate are the biggest impactors when it comes to the size of the sheep flock in Australia and have been that way over many, many years.

VARISCHETTI: And the phase out of sheep trade had nothing to do with it?

COLLINS: Well, obviously we've got a $139.7 million transition package on the table because we do understand that there will be an impact as a government, we've chosen to invest and what we want to do is work with industry to make sure that that money goes to where it needs to go to see the industry continue to thrive in Western Australia.

VARISCHETTI: Julie Collins, thank you for your time here on the Country Hour.

COLLINS: Thanks very much. See you later. Bye.