Livestock exporters accuse the Albanese government of acting in bad faith, with Agriculture Department officials turning away new Middle East customers for live sheep exports before an official end date to the trade has been set.

Documents released under freedom of information show bureaucrats told Agriculture Minister Murray Watt in January they would stop negotiating new export agreements with foreign governments, months before Senator Watt established an expert panel to consult industry over shutting the trade, including a timetable.