THE National Farmers’ Federation and other industry representatives staged an unprecedented walk-out during agriculture minister, Murray Watt’s post-Budget speech on Wednesday morning to make a statement about the recent live sheep export ban and issuing a warning to all farming sectors.

The group comprising the National Farmer’s Federation (NFF), Wool Producers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, Australian Livestock Export Council, WA Farmers, AgForce Queensland and NSW Farmers left the event when the minister started talking about the ban.

Just days prior to the Budget, Mr Watt announced Labor would phase out the live sheep export industry by May 1, 2028, with the Animal Justice Party celebrating their “lobbying and political advocacy”.

But NSW Farmers president, Xavier Martin told Mr Watt his decision was “absolutely shameful” in a public spray as he exited Crop Life Australia’s Budget Breakfast.

NFF president, David Jochinke said, “We turned our back to the minister just like he turned his back on farmers”.

“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.”

The Nationals leader, David Littleproud said the chaotic scenes were embarrassing and Labor’s own making, after the minister had left the industry with no confidence in the Budget and committed to destroying 3000 livelihoods in the process.

Mr Littleproud said he was dismayed that instead of listening, Mr Watt joked about the topic during the walkout, 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 rats about the industry,” Mr Littleproud said.

He said the decision was “perverse” as it will see the needless death of thousands of sheep from around the world, as countries that take up this market from Australia do not meet the same animal welfare standards.

He also took aim at the release of a 230-page independent panel report into the phase out with the claim the government “hid it behind Cabinet-in-Confidence for more than six months”.

“Farmers don’t want compensation, they just want to continue to lead the world in animal welfare and work with an Agricultural Minister who will actually work with the industry, not against it,” Mr Littleproud said.

Mr Watt said he wasn’t bothered by the “stunt” and added that many stakeholders stayed to listen to what he had to say about the government’s strategies for the sector.

In making the decision he had previously pointed to an RSPCA survey that claimed seven out of 10 West Australians didn’t support the live sheep export industry.

But some critics claimed the survey only consisted of 800 participants and was ideologically driven, while another survey from LiveCorp and the Meat and Livestock Association said support for a ban had dropped from 2019-2023 to only 29 per cent (down from 35 per cent).

Western Victoria MP, Beverly MacArthur added her voice of disapproval, warning that locally it would damage animal welfare, destroy livelihoods and lessen our food security.

“On all fronts it is wrong, and the knock-on effects are significant: locally in Western Victoria, in the rural economy more generally, on small agricultural businesses, transporters, shearers and others, and across Australia in the impact on the market for sheep as well as specialist provision of veterinary and genetic services,” she said.

Mr Jochinke said it was imperative to make a stand for the thousands of people and small businesses the trade ban would impact, but it was also much bigger than just the live sheep export trade.

“It appears this government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers,” he said.

“This week the government has cancelled a viable and important industry, what industry will be next on the chopping block?

“We know the calls are already ramping up for cattle to follow suit, but what if a vocal minority decides it doesn’t like apples or cotton or dairy?

“We will fight this decision tooth and nail. Agricultural policy must be built on evidence, science and listening to farmers, not ideology and inner-city vote grabbing.”