Mooney JosephJOSEPH MOONEY (National—Southland): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise as the member of Parliament for Southland to speak on the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill. Unfortunately this is another example of the Labour Government introducing flawed legislation that's going to have bad outcomes. It's left to the Opposition to stand up for the farming community.I'm just going to speak very briefly about Scott Harris and Lochie Bellerby and extend my condolences to their family. In the case of Lochie Bellerby the adventurous young man who was working to save up to get in to managing and buying the family farm near Te Ānau Southland really feels his loss.This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and inserts a new section 41 that  … prohibits for and the issue of animal welfare export certificates for the export of cattle deer goats or sheep by ship if the animals would leave New Zealand on or after 30 April 2023." By prohibiting the issuing of animal welfare certificates this bill has the effect of an absolute prohibition on these exports from that date.In April 2021 the Government announced a ban on live exports would be implemented. This was a reaction to the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 where both animal and animal lives were lost. And I'll just note that the Panama authorities have recently released a report on the fatal Gulf Livestock 1 sinking to New Zealand authorities. However New Zealand authorities have not released that report to the public. I hope they do as it's a matter of some public interest. This was albeit a truly tragic maritime disaster. However instead of enshrining an animal welfare gold standard into law the Government has instead used this as an opportunity to shut down a significant industry for New Zealand virtually overnight. While there have been examples in the media and in the select committee of poor practice this does not reflect the standards of the majority of the exporters who operate built-for-purpose vessels and undertake strict monitoring on board and at destination. These exporters have also been calling for a gold standard to get rid of the small minority like in any industry where there's some cowboys who don't comply with the standards voluntarily.In 2020 ruminant livestock exports brought over $261.5 million into the New Zealand economy capturing a large portion of the total livestock export trade globally. This revenue is crucial to the wellbeing of New Zealand's rural communities. It is also important to remember New Zealand's breeding livestock particularly dairy cattle are highly valued in the international agricultural community and that our high standards of animal welfare increase the desirability of our breeding livestock. Rather than legislate just to end New Zealand's livestock export capabilities we should develop a gold-standard approach for our livestock export capability. This could be achieved by aligning our practices with those of Australia to ensure that supreme animal welfare conditions are upheld by livestock exporters while also preserving our stake in the livestock export market. By choosing to ban the live export trade the Government is turning its back on animal welfare rather than taking up the opportunity to globally influence and contribute to better animal welfare into the future. The demand for livestock in established foreign markets will subside or disappear if New Zealand bans the export of live breeder cattle. Livestock will be sourced from other countries without the animal welfare support and the regulation that our law could provide for. This legislation also overlooks another significant consequence: the New Zealand dairy herd has effectively ceased expanding. Now dairy herds reproduce for lactation purposes and the proposed ban will see their resulting progeny becoming essentially worthless adding to our livestock in New Zealand. The opportunity costs of these 150000 bobby calves means that New Zealand could forgo $200 million to $300 million in direct economic benefits from the live export industry. Labour may think this income is just for farmers but that's incorrect; it's for all of New Zealand. Let me use the example of David Lindsay a sixth-generation Southland farmer in my electorate who wrote to the Primary Production Committee last year. David and his father had been supplying export cattle to several export companies for many years. David and his father are also predominantly dairy farmers. They milk their cows 365 days a year. To do this they run a split calving system. This means calves are born in spring and summer 65 percent of their herd is calved in spring and they autumn calve 15 percent of their herd. The remainder of their herd 20 percent is made up by non-pregnant calves that they purchase from other farmers in the autumn. Now these empty non-pregnant cows are replacement stock. Like most New Zealand dairy farmers David's farm does not require calves to be reared to maintain their herd therefore the export market provides an important outlet for the calves they don't need.There are many benefits to the system that Southland farmers like David run. Exporting unrequired livestock improves efficiency by reducing wastage. They don't need replacement stock to be reared. Live export cattle are wintered on feed pads. Farmers like David have actually reduced the environmental footprint by reducing the calves they rear and graze. Farmers involved in the live export trade provide employment and spend much of their income in their rural communities. David told the select committee that the revenues derived from live exports are used to support the farm's investments and to reducing its environmental impact. And this is the thing you've got to be in the black to be green. Something that I think Labour unfortunately forgets a lot of the time.David's submission also highlights that farmers in Southland and across the country strive to provide the best conditions for their animals. In David's case his business has invested in excellent calf-rearing facilities chilled calf milk vats and purpose-built stockyards for the calves. The farm also employs five calf rearers throughout the season. Further to fatten the calves David leases a local farm which provides a healthy rental to a local owner and provides more local employment. David's farm turns over about $1 million which is then reinvested back into his local community through the wages paid the lease of farmland the purchase of calf feed and trace elements local vets local farm supply providers local tradespeople local stock agents and transport providers who transport animals between farms and transport facilities. This I think is something that Labour often forgets is the ecosystem of our economy and the complex web of interrelated relationships that actually make the economy work; break one part of it you break the system. It's a real risk.Labour does not realise that rural communities everyday people who work hard to support their families are going to be adversely affected by this outright ban. As a consequence of this legislation hundreds of millions of dollars are going to be taken away from small rural communities around New Zealand. This foregone income is going to go to another country in this post-COVID environment when export income is critical to our nation's economic recovery and to the resilience of New Zealand's rural communities.I also note with concern that Cabinet made its policy determination before having consulted the industry or with rural New Zealand. It is important to remember that New Zealand has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world already. Also the Beef + Lamb New Zealand study shows that New Zealand farm produce produces only 25 percent of the global average in terms of carbon emissions. Removing New Zealand's ability to export stock will only serve to induce demand for less carbon-efficient beef which will ultimately increase global emissions.Compelling evidence from cattle breeders vets and export industry experts has been totally ignored at the select committee. Unfortunately this is becoming a habit from this Labour Government. There is an alternative approach to the self-destructive proposal for our economy. National believes that the livestock trade should continue but with stronger regulations through maintaining strong animal welfare standards and enhancing New Zealand's long-term trade relationships. The Government has turned a blind eye to submitters and the points that they raised very rightly.The live export sector directly contributed $261 million to the economy in 2020. The projected economic loss caused by such a ban has been grossly underestimated and rural communities across New Zealand will be detrimentally impacted by both jobs and revenue loss. Food supplies and exports are becoming more important than ever in the coming years as the world faces a food crisis. The world's food security relies in part on Kiwi farmers Kiwi growers and the Kiwi Government to be encouraging to do their bit and to make sure that we can export food to the world not be hampered by their own Government.New Zealand's current exports require high animal welfare standards. There are ways to improve animal welfare. For example National would support legislating for purpose-built ships airflow standards maximum stocking rates minimum vet availability on board increasing food reserves and minimum drainage pen standards. This bill is irretrievably flawed. It threatens jobs. It threatens our rural communities and it creates a demand in the market overseas for less carbon-efficient and less animal welfare friendly products to supply the market. National does not support this bill."