Farmers fear their livelihoods will be destroyed forever after the Anthony Albanian government announced a phase-out of live sheep exports.
The federal government’s announcement on Saturday sent shockwaves through the sheep farming industry, which will be forced to abandon the $143 million-a-year practice by May 2028.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the new legislation, which was one of Labour’s election promises, would be brought into effect before voters go to the polls again next year.
Despite committing to a $107 million transition package, farmers and industry leaders have branded the decision a “slap in the guts.”
Some have hundreds of sheep that they will have to ‘destroy’ because they have ‘nowhere to go’.
Anthony Albanese’s government has come under fire after making good on an election promise to ban live sheep exports by 2028 (stock image)
Western Australian livestock farmer David Slade said the closure of the industry was unjustified.
“It’s destroyed the industry on a whim,” Western Australian cattle farmer David Slade said news.com.au.
‘Everyone is really furious.’
It comes six years after the sector was plunged into conflict when footage showed thousands of sheep dying on board livestock ships due to overcrowding and excessive heat.
But farmers and industry leaders argue that new standards mean the practice is now much safer for livestock and the ban is not justified.
“Our welfare standards are absolutely of the highest standard,” Mr Slade said.
‘It wasn’t good before, there’s no doubt about that. We own that. We have ensured that this does not happen again.’
Mr Slade branded a $64.6 million package offered to help affected farmers diversify into new areas as an insult.
Western Australian farmer Ellen Walker (pictured) described the decision as a ‘slap in the guts’ and said she now has about 200 sheep to ‘destroy’.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said the federal government has failed to consider the ripple effects of removing a “key component” of the sheep industry.
“This industry is a fundamental market tool that enables farmers to manage livestock and maintain high animal welfare standards despite difficult seasons, market failures and more,” Martin said in a statement.
“And without this, many farmers will face major problems.”
He added that a reduction in sheep farming would also lead to a demand for fodder and grain used to feed livestock.
Mr Martin said the transition package “touches lightly” on supporting oversupply and processing, but does not support the knock-on effect on the wider agricultural sector.
“There is insufficient detail on how the wider agricultural and manufacturing industries will be supported, and so we have serious questions about what this will do to help the situation at all,” he said.
“Time and time again, this Federal Government has failed Australia’s food and fiber producers – and now they are eliminating markets for farmers and food for hungry people.
“What now, and can we continue to feed and clothe the nation as decision-making continues to deteriorate?”
Live sheep exports (pictured with livestock exports) will be phased out in May 2028
Mr Watt announced the legislation from Western Australia, where most live exports begin their journey to other countries.
“There are a number of other states in Australia that previously exported live sheep,” Senator Watt said.
“They came out and started processing more on land.”
The live animal export industry has seen annual declines since its peak in the early 2000s after a large volume of sheep were supplied to the Middle East.
RSPCA Australia boss Richard Mussell firmly backed the government’s decision.
“A rapid and orderly phase-out of live sheep exports, with appropriate measures to protect animal welfare in the meantime, is the right decision for Australian sheep and Australian farmers,” he said.
Farmers who have hundreds of sheep that they will have to ‘destroy’ because they ‘have nowhere to go’ (stock image)