The agriculture department has rallied behind Australia’s livestock industry in its beef with conservative senator Cory Bernardi’s use of the word “lambassador” in a political advertisement.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s lawyers have complained to Senator Bernardi over former footballer Sam Kekovich’s involvement in a Facebook post promoted with the phrase “The Lambassador supports Australian Conservatives”.

“We would agree 100 per cent with comments made here by the MLA’s general counsel that they aren’t allowed to engage in political activity,” Agriculture Department secretary Daryl Quinlivan told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Tuesday.

More to come