South Australian sheep farmers welcome Turnbull Government crackdown on live exports

THE Turnbull Government will crackdown on woeful live exporters and push for jail time for people who engage in animal abuse following the exposure of “horrifying” practices.

THE Turnbull Government will crack down on woeful live exporters and push for jail for people who engage in animal abuse following the exposure of “horrifying” practices.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud on Monday launched an emergency audit of his own department to review its capability, powers and culture in controlling export permits.

The move was welcomed by the South Australian sheep industry, which is the nation’s second biggest live sheep exporter accounting for 13 per cent of Australia’s industry.

Sheep export ship the Awassi Express docked at the port of Fremantle in Perth, the day after 60 Minutes aired the footage. Picture: AAP / Tony McDonough

Protesters outside the offices of Emanuel Exports in Perth on Monday. Picture: AAP / Tony McDonough

Mr Littleproud ruled out banning live exports but announced a new whistleblower hotline to expose animal welfare breaches and said he would work with Labor to strengthen penalties.

“I’m horrified and shocked by what I saw. I want to let the light shine in,” he said.

“We need to put in place an environment as soon as we possibly can to protect those brave young men and women to come forward and call out bad behaviour.

“I’d like to see company directors be held more personally accountable if they do the wrong thing, facing big fines and possible jail time. They shouldn’t be able to hide behind companies and shelf companies.”

But RSPCA SA spokeswoman Rebekah Eyers said the Federal Government must exercise its “legal and moral duty to permanently stop issuing permits for the export of live sheep to the Middle East”.

It follows the Nine Network airing footage of hundreds of Australian sheep, cramped together and dying aboard squalid live export ships headed to the Middle East.

Sheep Producers Australia president Allan Piggott supported the announcement and said SA farmers were “extremely angry” at the “appalling” treatment of sheep being exported to the Middle East. He said any live export ban would hurt the SA industry.