Farmers fear their livelihoods will be destroyed forever after Anthony Albanese’s government announced live sheep exports would be phased out.
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 enacted before voters return to the polls next year.
Despite committing to a $107 million transition package, farmers and industry leaders have called the decision a “punch in the gut.”
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 delivering on an election promise to ban live sheep exports by 2028 (file image)
Western Australian rancher David Slade called the industry closure unjustified.
“He has destroyed the industry on a whim,” said Western Australian cattleman David Slade news.com.au.
“Everyone is really furious.”
It comes six years after the industry was hit when footage revealed thousands of sheep died on board livestock vessels due to overcrowding and excessive heat.
But farmers and industry leaders say the new rules mean the practice is now much safer for livestock and that the ban is not justified.
“Our welfare standards are absolutely top-notch,” Mr Slade said.
“Before it wasn’t good, there’s no doubt about that. We own that. “We’ve made sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Slade called the $64.6 million package offered to help affected farmers diversify into new areas an insult.
Western Australian farmer Ellen Walker (pictured) described the decision as a “punch in the gut” and said she now has about 200 sheep she needs to “destroy”.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said the federal government failed to take into account the ripple effects of removing a “key component” of the sheep industry.
“This industry is a critical market tool that allows farmers to manage livestock and maintain high standards of animal welfare during difficult seasons, market failures and more,” Mr. Martin said in a statement.
“And without it, many farmers will have major problems on their hands.”
He added that a reduction in sheep farming would also affect demand for fodder and grain used to feed livestock.
Martin said the transition package “touches lightly” on supporting oversupply and processing, but does not support the knock-on effect for the broader agricultural industry.
“There are not enough details on how agriculture and processing industries in general will be supported, so we have serious doubts about how this will help improve the situation,” he said.
‘Time and time again, this federal government has failed Australia’s food and fiber producers, and now they are shutting down markets for farmers and food for hungry people.
“What’s next? Can we continue to feed and clothe the nation if decision-making continues to deteriorate?”
Live sheep exports (pictured with beef exports) will be phased out in May 2028.
Watt announced the legislation from Western Australia, where most live animal exports begin their journey to other nations.
“There are other states in Australia that used to export live sheep,” Senator Watt said.
“They got out of there and moved on to more internal processing.”
The live export industry has seen annual declines since its peak in the early 2000s, having supplied large numbers of sheep to the Middle East.
RSPCA Australia boss Richard Mussell strongly backed the government’s decision.
“A swift and orderly phase-out of the export of live sheep, with appropriate measures to safeguard animal welfare in the meantime, is the right decision for Australian sheep and farmers,” he said.
Farmers who have hundreds of sheep that they will have to “destroy” because they have “nowhere to go” (file image)