STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of One Nation) (13:40): I was privileged to meet with members of the Custom Footrot R-Pilus vaccine taskforce yesterday. It broke my heart to hear what sheep farmers across Australia go through in dealing with footrot. In 2022, it was estimated footrot costs the industry more than $83 million per year in treatment costs and lost production.

Up to 2020, farmers had access to an effective and inexpensive footrot vaccine developed and manufactured right here in Australia—Custom R-Pilus. It was discontinued due to market failure, and now farmers only have access to less effective and more expensive vaccines manufactured overseas. I'm informed that, at the cost of just $1.5 million, the Australian manufacturer is willing to resume manufacture of the vaccine.

This is less than one per cent of the $171 million compensation package offered to farmers when Labor ended live sheep export. I want to commend Mardon sheep farmer Rebecca Hamilton for her tireless efforts in lobbying for the vaccine to be made available to the industry again. Like her, I was stonewalled in raising this matter with the Labor government, which has been fighting an undeclared war against Australian agriculture.

Labor isn't interested in dealing with this animal welfare issue. Labor gives $2.5 billion to Tomago and $600 million for a Papua New Guinea football team. Labor has wasted $9 billion on green hydrogen, while Snowy Hydro has blown out to $42 billion.

But Labor won't give a measly $1½ million for Australian sheep farmers. I'm putting out a call to people who'd like to donate and step in where Labor will not and help our most iconic agricultural industry. If you're interested in donating to this to get the $1.5 million to start this manufacturing in Australia—New South Wales, actually—I'd suggest people call my office, because they desperately need your help.

Labor have failed them. They've failed the industry. (Time expired)