LIVE SHEEP EXPORT BAN GETS BACKLASH FROM OPPOSITION

BY ASAD KHAN

Coalition MP’s were joined by SA livestock producers from around the state before heading to WA, Adelaide. Credit:: Tony Pasin MP

The Australian government remains committed to phase-out live sheep export but the farmers and opposition called out the move as disastrous for WA’s live sheep export industry.

A Coalition-led committee has been formed to get feedback from farmers after the government made a panel last year with hopes to come up with a phase-out strategy but failed to come up with a plan.

Deputy Leader of The Nationals WA and Member for Roe, Peter Rundle said we are seeing potential loss of hundreds of jobs and well over $100 million loss to the industry.

Mr Rundle said the Minister asked people to submit reports and feedback and several thousand people did however Federal government is not releasing the report they have over five months.

” The issue is 97 percent of the live export trade emulates from Western Australia and the problem here is that it’s not East Coast,

“ So, we’ve got Federal east coast politicians making decisions about an industry which is based out of mainly Western Australia so thats the concern for me.” he said.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia’s report based on a five years average 2017- 2022 the annual value of live sheep export trade is $143 million. 

Listen to the full interview with Deputy Opposition Leader Peter Rundle speaking to Asad Khan: