However, Mr Joyce said the only conspiracy the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) had uncovered was he supported the red meat industry as a whole.

AMIEU spokesman Grant Courtney said Mr Joyce was jetting around the country at the expense of a large company that benefited from the live cattle trade and had his “unwavering support”, despite the devastating effect it had on Australian workers.

“Joyce’s register shows no less than six private flights, paid for by Stanbroke, with highly suspect timing, that raises serious questions about his integrity and a potential conflict of interest that call into question his commitment to the electorate,” Mr Courtney said.

“The Australian public are deeply concerned, and were a little confused, that Joyce is willing to sell off Australian jobs in favour of the live export industry. But it all makes sense now – he and his family are taking flight after flight around the country at the expense of one of the biggest players in the industry.

“The uncovered gifts from suppliers are evidence of Joyce’s close relationship with Stanbroke and calls into question each and every one of his decisions on live exports.”

Mr Joyce said Stanbroke was a great Australian family-owned business, involved in every aspect of the red meat sector, and, like the sector overall, live exports were only a small but important part of its business.

“The union’s claim that the company is ‘one of the biggest players’ in the live export industry is completely false,” Mr Joyce said.

“The union might be surprised to learn that more than 95 per cent of the cattle they produce are processed at their southern Queensland processing plant, which employs around 500 meat workers.

“Stanbroke is a proudly Australian-owned, vertically integrated cattle producer, feedlotter, processor and exporter of Australian beef.

“I am a big backer of meat workers, cattle producers and beef exporters – and yes, that includes live exporters.

“I appreciate the AMIEU giving me the opportunity to make that clear.”