Fired-up farmers have warned a parliamentary inquiry that some Western Australian towns will not survive if the live sheep export trade is banned by 2028 as planned.
The inquiry, which sat in regional WA on Friday, heard from farmers, shearers, transporters and community members impacted by the Albanese government’s ban.
The live export ban is due to come into force in May 2028.Credit: Ryan Stuart
Farm utes lined up for kilometres as farmers and industry workers showed up in force to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed legislation.
During an at-times heated debate, stakeholders expressed concern the ban would ring the death knell for regional towns.
WA Farmers’ John Hassell told the inquiry: “People will leave, schools will close, police stations will disappear. This is devastating to regional southwest Western Australia.”
Questions from committee chair Meryl Swanson about how farming organisations were helping members to transition out of live sheep exports were met with anger.
WA Farmers’ Steve McGuire fired back: “They are not dumb country hicks that live in a vacuum. They tell us what to do, we don’t tell them. What the federal government is asking us to do is put all our eggs in the abattoir basket.”
Friday’s inquiry also heard from animal activists who describe live sheep exports as cruel.
Rebecca Tapp, from Stop Live Exports, said “the overwhelming majority” of Australians were opposed to the trade.
And she urged parliamentarians to ignore the “fear and smear” campaign being run by the industry.
“Our animals have suffered enough, please listen to the community who don’t have a vested interest in the trade and support the bill,” Tapp said.
“The reason the bill has been introduced is because live export is inherently cruel. Over 70 per cent of sheep voyages accompanied by independent observers still have incidents of non-compliance.”
The ban, which was prompted by animal welfare concerns, is due to come into force in May 2028. It would still allow for live sheep to be exported by air and cattle to be exported by sea.
AAP
