Independent MPs want increased funding for live sheep export transition

Some MPs have called for the live sheep export ban to be extended to cattle, as exporters say the federal government’s legislation should have industries ‘looking over their shoulder’.

Live sheep exports are to be banned by the federal government.

Independent MPs have backed calls for the federal government to increase the funding to help farmers transition away from live sheep exports, while the opposition and exporters urged Labor senators to cross the floor and vote against the legislation.

The government’s Bill passed the lower house on Wednesday morning, just over a month after it was announced the live sheep export trade would be phased out by May 2028.

A hastily-prepared parliamentary committee report last week recommended the government consider additional funding to the $107m pledged to help farmers and other members of the industry into other lines of work.

The industry has described the payout as insulting, a complaint echoed this week by crossbenchers including Zali Steggall, Rebekha Sharkie and Kate Cheney.

Debate over the legislation in parliament this week raised concerns within the agriculture sector after several Independent MPs, including Ms Steggall and Andrew Wilkie, said the government should extend the ban to the $1.5bn live cattle export trade.

Western Australia Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis will meet with her federal counterpart Murray Watt in Canberra on Thursday to discuss the funding arrangements. “The Cook government does not support the passage of the Bill,” she said. “If it does proceed there must be adequate assistance to support our sheep industry to transition.”

Ms Jarvis said the immediate priority was to increase meat processing capacity in WA and support on-farm investment in infrastructure that increases livestock holding capacity while awaiting onshore processing.

Senator Watt said he acknowledged the parliamentary committee’s recommendations to increase funding and work with WA to refine and implement the transition support package.

“The committee noted that the support package has the potential to strengthen segments of the WA economy and presents opportunities for WA businesses and livelihoods in some sectors – particularly in terms of onshore processing, packaging, and frozen exports,” Senator Watt said.

Passage of the legislation drew fresh condemnation from farming groups who have criticised the move for destroying legitimate industry at the behest of activists.

But animal welfare activists have welcomed the move amid calls from some members of parliament for the ban to be extended to the live cattle trade.

“This legislation is fair and commonsense, carefully balancing the needs of industry and providing a more humane future for Australian sheep,” Australian Alliance for Animals spokesman Jed Goodfellow said.

Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said the bill was an “outrage” and called on Labor senators to follow in the footsteps of their colleague Fatima Payman, who crossed the floor this week to vote with the Greens in calling for recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“The ridiculous speed and lack of transparency demonstrated by the government is an outrage,” Mr Harvey-Sutton said.

“It is a process that should make any Australian who works in an industry pursued by activists, unfortunately need to look over their shoulder. Will it be your industry and job next?”

Mr Harvey-Sutton praised independent Curtin MP Kate Chaney for voting against the bill.

“Ms Chaney showed us today that Members of parliament can change their minds when shown the evidence on an issue,” he said.

“That is what we’ve consistently asked them to do: look at the overwhelming evidence of reform in the industry and base your decisions on how it looks today.”