CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms PRICE (Durack) (09:42): In the Countryman newspaper last week, it was deeply concerning to read of a petition to stop all live animal export to be tabled by the member for Clark next month. Primary producers across regional Western Australia have already been targeted by the inner-city left, with the help of Labor, in the ending of live sheep export. Now, the same groups are targeting our cattle and goat producers.
Our pastoralists across the Mid West, Gascoyne, Kimberley and the Pilbara are working every day to provide not only for us but also for our export partners with critical food sources working day in and day out for Australia as a whole. I'm very proud to be part of a Liberal government that strengthened and sustained the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, known as ESCAS, rather than winding back support for the live export industry.
These changes were all made with the wellbeing and welfare of the animals in mind, creating world-leading animal welfare regulations. I will always support our primary producers across regional Western Australia, and I can guarantee them that, should this government act on this petition, I will absolutely be voting against it to protect such a vital part of Australia's way of life.
The Prime Minister should publicly state that his government does not intend to end live export. If Labor are truly for all Australians and support regional Australians, they will join the coalition in backing our agricultural sector. I have long been a supporter of the Midwest Community Living Association, a not-for-profit organisation based in Geraldton that supports people with disability and their families.
I regularly meet with chair Clara Harris and CEO Alison Adam to discuss disability services, NDIS challenges, red tape and ways to improve outcomes for people living with a disability across Durack. For the past five years, MWCLA has been planning a new venture in the form of Our Cafe, a safe, welcoming place where people with disabilities can build skills, independence, competence and find real purpose in their daily lives.
I'm proud that, through the Growing Regions Program, this particular project was able to become a reality. Having recently opened, I was fortunate to visit Our Cafe last week to see the purpose and vision for this space come to life, and to experience it for myself made the visit even more special. NWCLA's aim is to enrich the lives of those they support by championing individual choices and creating opportunities to connect with and participate in this community.
Well, you have absolutely nailed it with Our Cafe. Well done. I'd like to congratulate everyone who's been involved with Our Cafe—the volunteers but particularly the workers.
It was an excellent experience, and I will be back. Thank you so much.