Live sheep export poll puts heat on Cathy McGowan

A majority of constituents in Cathy McGowan’s electorate support phasing out live sheep exports.

Independent MP Cathy McGowan at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

A majority of constituents in Cathy McGowan’s regional Victorian electorate of Indi support phasing out live sheep exports, according to new polling, as pressure increases on the independent MP to vote for a ban.

With Scott Morrison leading a minority government, there is new hope among MPs who oppose the controversial trade that a bill to stop live sheep exports could pass the House of Representatives.

A ReachTEL survey of 675 Indi residents obtained by The Australian found 68.4 per cent would back an eventual ban if affected farmers were assisted in the transition, including 86.9 per cent of McGowan supporters and 59.8 per cent of Liberal voters.

Only Nationals voters were mostly opposed with 50.8 per cent against stopping live sheep exports, while 41 per cent were for a ban if there was transitional assistance and 8.2 per cent were undecided.

The poll was commissioned by Animals Australia and conducted in August but has not been publicly released until now.

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie, a close colleague of Ms McGowan’s, has pledged to introduce a private member’s bill in the final parliamentary sitting fortnight of 2018 that would reflect previous legislation introduced by Liberal MP Sussan Ley to put a stop to the industry in five years.

Queensland independent MP Bob Katter is the only lower house crossbencher to confirm his opposition to ending live sheep exports.

Labor could combine with the five remaining crossbenchers — Ms McGowan, Ms Sharkie, Adam Bandt, Andrew Wilkie and Kerryn Phelps — to bring on a debate and pass the bill if it also had the support of Ms Ley and Liberal MP Sarah Henderson.

Ms Henderson and Ms Ley, both government frontbenchers, prevented a debate on the latter’s Live Sheep Long Haul Export Prohibition bill in September but have revived their push for a five-year phase out of the trade in the wake of the scathing Moss review.

“The Moss review further bolsters the case for a phase out of live sheep export and I will continue to advocate for a change in government policy,” Ms Henderson said.

Ms McGowan did not rule out supporting Ms Sharkie’s bill but said she was seeking further details about any legislation concerning live sheep exports.

“This is a very important issue. Indi has a strong agricultural base. While I am in the electorate I am consulting widely about any proposed changes. When I return to the parliament I will seek briefings from government and the opposition, and then consider this information in detail,” she said.

Dr Phelps, who was declared the winner of the Wentworth by-election yesterday, has said she will use her new position as an independent MP to “try to bring an end to live sheep exports”.

The spotlight was put back on the trade after the scathing Moss review into live animal exports and the Agriculture Department’s regulatory powers found the government and industry had failed on many occasions to prioritise animal welfare and uphold high standards.