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WA farmers plan to flood freeways in stand against live export ban
About 1500 WA farmers and livestock transport industry workers will flood the CBD in their trucks on Friday morning to protest the ending of live sheep exports.
Ben Sutherland will travel from Ravensthorpe in his livestock truck, keen to add his voice to the ‘Keep the Sheep’ campaign.
Keep the Sheep campaigners say a live export ban would devastate WA farming families and their communitiesCredit: Bloomberg
“We’ve had an overwhelming response to the rally and it’s only gaining traction,” Sutherland, who is also the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia vice-president, said.
“It’s going to be a pretty long procession and will make an impression, but the aim is not to be an aggressive protest, it’s a passive protest.
“It’s not going to be doom and gloom, the traffic entering the city is going to be minimal, mainly utes and flat-tops with hay bales as well as semis and prime movers without their trailers.
“We’re here to gain public support, not piss them off.”
Four convoys will leave at 8am from Bedfordale, Mundijong, Neerabup and Rous Head, passing through the city via Mounts Bay Road, past Elizabeth Quay and Riverside Drive before heading out via the Causeway.
While Sutherland’s vehicle is too big to enter the city, he will head a convoy with other larger trucks and livestock crates heading north on Roe Highway where they will meet in Bullsbrook with the remainder of the procession.
The protest coincides with Thursday’s introduction of legislation into Federal Parliament to phase out the live sheep export trade by May 30, 2028.
Mr Sutherland said the major piece of legislation would affect not just truckers but the rural community on the whole.
“We believe this policy is wrong and it’s going to hurt WA and have national consequences,” he said.
“It impacts pretty much everything to do with agriculture and transport departments from feedlots right down to grain producers and fuel distributors – even our kids’ community sports that rely on sponsorship from the industry will lose out.
“Rural communities are tight-knit, when I sit down and think about it, it’s a unique network they’re trying to crush.”
The Albanese Government said the 2028 projected end date would allow individuals, businesses and communities to plan for a future without live sheep exports by sea, with a $107 million package to aid the phase-out.
Main Roads is aware of the rally and are anticipating increased congestion.
“Our message to all road users is to plan their journey and to expect delays on several key routes,” a spokesperson said.
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