RSPCA CALLS FOR LIVE EXPORT PHASE OUT IN FIRST TERM OF GOVERNMENT

Live export of lamb from Australia could soon be banned. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

While the Government has committed to phasing out live export, the RSPCA says it is pushing to have a phase-out date legislated in this term of Parliament. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would set up a four-person panel to determine how and when live sheep export would be shut down. 

RSPCA Spokesperson Joanne Webb said the RSPCA was advocating to have a phase-out date legislated for all live export before the next election. 

‘‘The RSPCA is advocating for the phase-out date to be legislated in this term of parliament, so that means basically an end date legislated before 2025,’’ she said.

‘‘The Government had obviously committed to phasing out live sheep export around the election time, and so the fact they’ve confirmed that this will be the case is something we’re quite pleased to see.’’

In a statement last month, the Australian Livestock Exporter’s Council said it opposed a phase-out of live sheep export, calling it “unwarranted.”