Commuter chaos for Perth as Keep the Sheep trucks clog roads
Commuters be warned: the roads may be as packed as a livestock saleyard pen on Friday morning when truckers, farmers and their supporters drive through Perth as part of the Keep the Sheep protest movement.
The truck convoy is part of a rally that aims to draw attention to the federal government’s phase-out of live sheep exports under legislation passed last year.
The government wants to end all live sheep trade by May 2028, and has promised a $139.7 million transition package to help navigate the stormy waters ahead for farmers and exporters.
But there’s a federal election coming up, and the Keep the Sheep movement is drumming up support for the ban to be reversed.
David Vandenberghe, chairman of sheep and cattle grower group ASHEEP & BEEF, said it was generally rare to see farmers pushed to the point they felt the need to publicly protest.
“It shows the high level of anger and frustration toward the Albanese government’s decision to shut down WA’s sheep live export trade and the lack of understanding or consultation in reaching that position,” he said.
Keep the Sheep convoy - affected roads
Metro roads include:
- Kwinana Freeway
- Mitchell Freeway
- Reid Highway
- Stirling Highway
- Canning Highway
- Tonkin Highway
- Great Eastern Highway
CBD roads include:
- The Esplanade
- Mounts Bay Road
- Wellington Street
- Hay Street
- Causeway and Riverside Drive
“There are now over 110,000 signatures on a petition to stop the ban on sheep live exports.
“WA’s sheep industry is seeing huge damage from the shutdown of one of our key markets. Our industry has made a significant investment in reforming the trade over the last decade and Australia now leads the world in best practice standards, but this has been disregarded.”
The phase-out legislation came after a series of high-profile animal welfare incidents, including the deaths of thousands of sheep on a trip to the Middle East in 2018.
Main Roads WA has put out an alert for commuters, with the convoys – due to begin about 7.30am in Neerabup, Mundijong, Bedfordale and Fremantle – travelling on set routes through Perth and converging at Quarry Farm in Whitby.
“Consider adjusting travel times to ensure your safe and timely arrival to work, school or other locations,” the alert reads, noting long delays are expected.
Stop Live Exports WA spokesperson Ruth Gourley called those protesting the ban a “noisy minority”.
“They stand in stark contrast to the overwhelming majority of Australians, who want to see this cruel trade end because they want better protection for the welfare of animals,” she said.
“Australians have been appalled by the disturbing evidence of sheep suffering during export where they endure weeks of cramped, hot conditions.
“Transitioning from live sheep exports to chilled and frozen sheepmeat presents significant economic growth opportunities for Australia, particularly for WA.”
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