WAFarmers met with Senator Fatima Payman last week, the new independent MP from Western Australia, who walked from the Australian Labor Party (ALP) after splitting on the issue of the war in Gaza.
“We were impressed. This is not your normal politician. She is clearly smart and articulate and has the ability to listen, something Senator Murray Watt was not interested in doing when it came to live sheep,” WAFarmers chief executive officer Trevor Whittington said.
“Aside from talking about live sheep and her homeland Afghanistan, she pointed out to us, the local Islamic community having an interest in the live sheep debate, as giving and slaughtering sheep as part of their Eid al-Fitr and Ramadam festivals has deep religious meaning and many wanted the ability to buy livestock as gifts for relatives in the Middle East to then be slaughtered in controlled facilities.
Senator Payman told Echo News that she appreciated the team at WAFarmers for making the time to meet with her.
“It was important for me to understand the challenges, the complexities and implications of policy changes on our agricultural sector.
“I look forward to continuing these conversations and visits to hear from farmers far and wide. As the independent voice of WA, I will continue to prioritise the best interests of my constituents,” she said.
Mr Whittington said next month, there could well be a fourth political party in the Senate if the Australian Muslim Party gets off the ground.
“If nothing else, it should make for interesting bedfellows with One Nation. How’s the old saying go? My enemy’s enemy is my friend,” he said.
Mr Whittington said with or without the new party, Senator Payman will be in the position to exercise her newfound freedom to vote to support WA farmers in a future vote to reverse the federal government’s live export ban.
In other moves the ‘Keep the Sheep’ petition has attracted almost 75,000 signatures with the campaign calling for volunteers to hit the streets to letter box and deliver pamphlets in key seats.
The lobby group is targeting Tangney, Hasluck and the possible new seat of Bullwinkel.
