Coalition future hangs on live sheep exports

Nationals leader David Littleproud says the party’s commitment to any future Coalition government will be contingent on the reinstatement of the live sheep export trade.

Sheep bound for live export being loaded on to trucks at Peel Feedlot in Mardella, WA. Picture: Philip Gostelow

Nationals leader David Littleproud says the party’s commitment to any future Coalition government will be contingent on the reinstatement of the live sheep export trade set to be axed by the Albanese government.

Mr Littleproud said he had made the demand clear to Coalition counterpart Peter Dutton, who will have to assuage the concerns of some of his Liberal Party colleagues, who have said they support Labor’s push to ban the trade.

It comes as the Albanese government prepares to embark on a consultation process with the agriculture industry about how to phase out the live sheep export sector. But the country’s most powerful farming organisations say they will not contribute to any discussion about phase-outs.

“This is where industry needs to stand up,” Mr Littleproud told The Australian. “We will give an iron-clad guarantee the National Party will reopen this live sheep export industry in Western Australia, once we are re-elected, if the Labor Party shut it.

“I’ve made it clear that the condition of any future Coalition government (the) National Party is part of will be the reinstatement of the live sheep industry.”

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley and colleagues Sarah Henderson and Jason Wood have previously called for an end to live sheep exports. Ms Ley last week changed her position and said she supported the ongoing trade after noting industry improvements.

While Anthony Albanese has said the trade will not be ended in the current term, scrapping it will require legislation and cannot be done via export control orders because of its permanency.

Mr Littleproud has extended an open invitation to any crossbenchers willing to learn more about the industry, which has undergone significant welfare reform since 2017, to join him on tours of facilities in Western Australia. Among those to accept is independent senator David Pocock, who flew to Perth last week. For personal reasons, Mr Littleproud had to fly home to Queensland and the tour was postponed.

Senator Pocock declined to comment on Thursday.

“This will need to be implemented via legislation, so it is important we take him (Pocock) there to show him because the crossbench will be pivotal to this,” Mr Littleproud said. “If shutting this trade down is based on science, let’s debate the science.

“We intend to take David Pocock and any of the Senate crossbench over to understand the industry, not just looking at a boat, and the loading of a boat, but all the way through the supply chain to understand the importance to Western Australia.

“This would kill off 3000 Western Australian families’ jobs.”

Since 2017, after several high-profile incidents in which thousands of sheep died aboard export vessels, the industry has overhauled its practices to improve animal welfare standards.

Mr Littleproud said ending Australia’s supply of live sheep to the Persian Gulf would mean other countries with less stringent standards would fill the shortfall.

“All we would be doing is exporting the animal welfare standards of Australia to other countries like Sudan and Ethiopia,” he said. “We are the only country that measures shipment on animal welfare standards.”

In a joint letter, the heads of 25 peak farming groups told Agriculture Minister Murray Watt the Albanese government’s policy was a “red line that can’t be crossed” and would empower activists campaigning against other sectors of the agriculture industry.

Senator Watt has acknowledged the impact ending the live sheep export trade would have on farmers and businesses in WA, but intends to carry on constructively engaging with the industry about how to phase out the practice.