Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Minister for Communications and the Arts) (15:59): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator FIFIELD: The government supports the continuation of a sustainable livestock export trade. The Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources is improving animal welfare standards and taking steps to make the trade more accountable for its actions. Any ban of the live sheep trade would unfairly punish producers and rural communities.