David Littleproud at Beef2024.
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the Trump Administration’s comments, following Labor’s decision to allow US beef born and raised in Canada or Mexico to be imported into Australia, seem to have validated his concern that a deal was done before the biosecurity protocols were finalised.
Mr Littleproud said comments in the past 24 hours made by the US Administration are at odds with Labor’s claim that the move was predicated on biosecurity and science.
Mr Littleproud added industry was also backing his calls for an independent review into the decision.
“We need to know if Labor is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The Prime Minister should be using our strong relationship with the US and our AUKUS deal as a solid reason to obtain a much-needed meeting with President Trump.”
The Trump Administration said it had now put other countries who refuse US beef on notice. Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism Kevin Hogan said comments from the US Administration indicate this decision was a negotiation tool, rather than being about biosecurity.
“We have the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer directly connecting this decision to the US-Australia trade relationship, but the Albanese Government is saying the complete opposite,” Mr Hogan said.
“We cannot be using our science-based biosecurity standards as a bargaining chip.”
In 2022-2023, Australia’s red meat and livestock industry turnover was $81.7 billion and the industry employed 418,921 people.
In 2023, Australia exported 67 per cent of its total beef and veal production, valued at $11.3 billion.