FEDERAL member for O'Connor Tony Crook said he has major concerns over the future of the live export trade.
Speaking to Farm Weekly after Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig's delegation returned from the Middle East, Mr Crook said he believed the industry understood it had a "loose cannon" in charge of the agriculture portfolio.
"My concern is it is either Mr Ludwig's way or no way," Mr Crook said.
"I think the industry is a bit guarded by that because the last thing it wants is to see another knee-jerk reaction like the live cattle export ban to Indonesia last year."
Mr Crook said he visited Katanning and Kojonup recently and many producers came to him with concerns that the trade would close.
"I have got some serious concerns about the Export Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)," he said.
"About three million sheep are exported out of WA each year and I would suggest the electorate of O'Connor would supply the bulk of them.
"It is a significant market which we cannot afford to lose."
Mr Crook said Mr Ludwig had made a mess of the industry and may have left his trip to the Middle East too late.
The first Tranche 1 includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Turkey and is due to be implemented by February 29.
"I understand the industry is supportive of the changes but from my understanding it is having the proverbial knife held to its throat which is totally unfair," he said.
"Australia has led the way in animal welfare throughout the world.
"We can only hope Mr Ludwig has learnt from the previous episode (the live cattle export ban to Indonesia) and he can act far more wisely.
"Not withstanding that, animal welfare is paramount here."
Mr Crook, who called for Mr Ludwig's resignation following the live cattle ban, said he would write to the Minister to express his concerns and reinforce how vital the industry was.
"We need to work with overseas governments and work with industry," he said.
"The cattle issue was disappointing and I don't think anybody was more disappointed than the farmers.
"I think it is vitally important the government does all it can to keep this trade open because it is vital to my electorate and it is vital to the Australian economy."
He said Australia was leading the world in animal welfare and that needed to be recognised.
Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) livestock industries executive director Kevin Chennell travelled as part of Mr Ludwig's delegation to the Middle East as a representative of WA Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman.
Mr Redman said he had been in discussions with Mr Chennell about the delegation and was confident the ESCAS could be implemented.
"I think there have been improvements over there which is encouraging," Mr Redman said.
"Industry is saying that while the time frames are challenging they are fully committed in implementing the ESCAS.
"I am very pleased Senator Ludwig has visited the region in person and it gives a level of authority in concert with industry that it values the trade."
Mr Redman said he believed Mr Ludwig was set in the time frames for the implementation and that would not change.
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