The grain and livestock producer from Pingelly said the industry could send 15,000 sheep a week to Qatar if there were more flights.
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“I think the greatest contributor is the decision to ban the live trade,” he said.
“You can’t even give sheep away.
“When it costs you $5 to transport the sheep to the saleyards, and then it costs you $5 for yardage and if they don’t get bid it’s $25 to euthanise them. We simply can’t afford that. It’s bloody soul destroying.”
Hassell criticised the state government for not acting sooner to address the crisis in the industry.
The state government announced on Monday it would establish a 2024 Dry Season Taskforce to help address concerns as farmers across WA experience challenging seasonal conditions.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the hot, dry weather was the new normal due to the effects of climate change, and it was absolutely vital to find new ways to tackle the challenges going forward.
“This autumn is already proving to be hotter and drier than previous years across much of the state, and some areas have had no real rain since spring last year,” she said.
“Livestock and horticultural producers are already feeling the brunt of this.
“Climate modelling is indicating we may have a late break to the season across grain growing regions, and I want to ensure Western Australian farmers have all the information they need to support critical on-farm decision making.”
The opposition condemned comments made by Jarvis this week advising farmers they would need to consider euthanising livestock as animal welfare conditions plummet during drought conditions.
Shadow Agriculture Minister Colin de Grussa MLC said it was shocking commentary and indicated the Labor government had no solutions to offer struggling primary producers.
“Farmers and producers who attended a drought meeting in the South West this week were livid at comments made by the Minister for Agriculture that they need to be prepared to euthanise their animals,” he said.
“This is a minister with no solutions beyond offering mental health support to struggling farmers who are now facing the prospect of shooting thousands of animals, because the government has failed to act with any urgency and failed to heed our warnings.”
Member for Roe Peter Rundle asked the premier this week when financial support would be made available to allow farmers to cart fodder and water to their properties.
“It’s clear the premier has no understanding around the impact of Labor’s live export ban nor the relationship that the live export market provides in allowing stressed growers to sell their livestock to relieve pressure on farm feed and water resources,” he said.
Premier Roger Cook said the ban on the live export trade, which is yet to come into effect, was not to blame for farmers having to euthanise stock.
“They can still export their sheep,” he said.
“The situation where farmers are forced to put down their stock, that is horrible. It’s regrettable.
“And that’s why we’re continuing to work with the farming community to see what else we can do to support them.”
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