Aussie farmers in backlash over ban on live sheep exports

Farmers in Australia have been launching protests after their government announced plans to ban live sheep exports by 1 May 2028, which they say will put them out of business.

Animal welfare groups have been lobbying the Australian Government to ban live animal exports for years, claiming the practice is cruel and causes farm animals distress.

But many farmers insist there is no foundation to the welfare claims, and say the ban is an attack on their livelihoods and a ploy to win urban votes at the next election. A grassroots farmer campaign called #KeepTheSheep has been created.

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Agriculture minister Murray Watt has announced a four-year exit plan to ban live sheep exports by sea.

The ban will not apply to other livestock export industries, such as live cattle exports, nor will it apply to live sheep exports by air.

Australia’s ruling Labor government has committed AUS$107m (£55.7m) over five years for sheep producers and the supply chain to plan for and adjust to the phase-out.

Part of the aim is to build up the processing industry so that more sheep are slaughtered before their meat is exported.

But farming organisations estimate that transitioning to a system of entirely onshore processing of sheep would cost $1bn-$2bn (£521,000-£1.42m), including the cost of constructing new abattoirs, upgrading existing facilities, addressing skilled labour shortages, enhancing logistics for refrigerated transport and ensuring with regulatory standards.

Has anyone asked those most affected by live export bans? International solidarity for #keepthesheep pic.twitter.com/jeT10aXYro

— Jack Out The Back (@JackOutTheBack) June 1, 2024

In the past week, thousands of farmers in Perth, Western Australia, have taken part in demonstrations against the ban.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), the the peak national body representing farmers and agriculture across Australia, accused the government of “selling out regular people in Western Australia for a handful of east-coast votes”.

Middle East interests ‘hurt’

NFF president David Jochinke said: “This ban will hurt animals, it will hurt Australia’s interests in the Middle East, and it’ll hurt the Western Australian economy. It’ll end the tremendous amount of good this trade does, both here and overseas.  

“The government knows this is bad policy. But they’ve staked their political future on the hope that fair-minded Australians won’t realise what they’ve done.” 

Figures from Meat and Livestock Australia show live sheep exports by sea increased by 22% last year to 593,514 head – the largest year since 2020. The main export destinations are Kuwait, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.