Farmers warn against sheep export ban

Farmers have written to the Prime Minister, warning the government’s live sheep export ban will hurt trade and diplomatic relationships.

Sheep being loaded on to an export vessel.

Australia’s most influential farming groups have written to Anthony Albanese calling for an 11th hour rethink of his pledge to ban live sheep exports and warning of “irreversible harm” to the agriculture sector and the country’s $11.1bn trade partnerships in the Middle East.

The joint letter, signed by the National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, the Western Australian Farmers Federation and 20 other industry organisations, claims the planned shutdown would be “expensive and disruptive” and ultimately “pointless” because it would be repealed the next time the Coalition formed government.

A government-convened panel tasked with consulting the ­national sheep industry in order to advise the government on how to implement its pre-election pledge to shut down the live sheep trade was supposed to hand its findings to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt on Saturday but has been given an extension until October 25.

“Live export stakeholders are losing confidence in your government’s ability to work in their best interests and those of the Australian agriculture sector, rural and regional communities that depend on the live sheep export trade,” the letter reads.

“The decision to phase out the live export of sheep by sea will not only cause irreversible harm to our sector but also to Australia’s trade and diplomatic partnerships in the Middle East.”

It comes after Kuwait’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Mohammad Othman Al Aiban, this month wrote to ­Senator Watt, criticising the Albanese’s government’s decision and saying live sheep imports were key to the country’s “religious, cultural and social stability”.

The Nationals have already vowed to repeal any live export ban the next time the Coalition forms government.

“The stated and likely reversal of this decision by the conservative side of politics, should they gain government, will make the ban not only pointless, but a very expensive and disruptive process for no gain,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, West Australian bureaucrats will soon begin helping the state’s embattled sheep graziers work out just how many sheep they need to get rid of amid ongoing pain in sheep prices.

Following recent revelations in The Australian of sheep prices falling to as little as $2 a head, WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis on Friday said the state would help farmers with a range of resources.

The state is offering free counselling, mental health support and financial services for sheep farmers who are caught up in some of the worst market conditions in history.

WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is also working on an economic analysis that it says will help sheep producers in their decision-making on matters such as optimum flock size, priority animals to retain on farm, and immediate decisions around feeding retained animals.

“We know this is a difficult time for hardworking farmers across the nation who are being affected by challenging climate and industry conditions,” Ms ­Jarvis said.

WA Premier Roger Cook has denied any link between the current slump in sheep prices and the federal government’s steps towards ending the live export of the animals.

Connecting the two issues, he said, was “complete and utter nonsense”.