A founding member of a West Australian group protesting the Albanese government’s sheep export ban will travel to the eastern states next month to rev up national support, and has called on billionaire Gina Rinehart to donate to the campaign.

Keep The Sheep has raised about $450,000 since it was founded earlier this year after the government announced live export of sheep would be phased out, and is preparing to target a handful of Labor-held seats in Perth at the looming federal election.