Keep the Sheep reaches milestone

In just six days, a campaign to keep the live sheep export trade alive has received more signatures than a petition cited by the government in support of banning the trade.

More people have now signed a petition to keep Australia’s live sheep exports open, than those who signed a petition to ban the trade.

When federal Regional Development Minister Catherine King introduced legislation for the phase-out to parliament last week, she cited a 2023 RSPCA petition in support of the ban with 43,758 signatures, to support her claim the move would “better align Australian export law with community expectation”.

But as of Thursday afternoon, the Keep the Sheep campaign petition to save the trade had acquired 44,258 signatures in just six days - 500 more than the original RSPCA petition.

“The government claimed when they passed the bill that the petition was one of the key reasons they were closing the trade,” The Livestock Collective director Steven Bolt said.

“What we have demonstrated in six days surpassing the (original petition) number, is that the industry and trade is well supported, not only as an essential part of the WA sheep industry but as part of the broader agriculture industry as well.”

This comes after federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced a parliamentary inquiry into the Bill earlier this week, acknowledging the importance of scrutinising the legislation before it can pass through parliament.

Mr Watt noted that more than 70 per cent of Western Australians wanted to see the trade banned.

An RSPCA survey of 800 participants (450 metro, 350 rural) in 2023 found that 71 per cent of participants supported banning the trade.

Very interesting research released this week from @RSPCA showing 70% of Western Australians support the Albanese Government’s policy to phase out live sheep exports. Consultation is ongoing as to how and when we implement the policy. Have your say here: https://t.co/v6ZND591Fk https://t.co/LKwllwBWTR

— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) June 22, 2023

However, a survey of 4716 Australians conducted by The Australian Livestock Export Corporation in 2023 found only 29 per cent of participants agree Australia should stop the export of live animals, while finding there was no significant difference in perceptions about live sheep exports compared to the industry generally.

With two public hearings to be held in Canberra and Muresk, Western Australia on June 12 and 14 respectively, and submissions to the inquiry due by June 11, industry leaders have raised concerns the inquiry will be rushed.

“For us to be given 10 days notice with less than a week to provide submissions to the committee, shows a lack of respect for the impact it will have on the industry,” Mr Bolt said.

“The WA agricultural army is going to be turning up (to Muresk) in cause. The protest last week in Perth was significant, I’ll be surprised if we don’t surpass those numbers.”

In response to questions over the length of the inquiry, Mr Watt said it was reasonable to “get cracking” on the legislation.

“We are talking about a cut-off date four years away, so there’s lots of time for the industry to adjust,” he said.

“These inquiries are more about the details of the legislation, rather than whether this is a good or bad idea … so I think it’s important we get the legislation going reasonably soon.

“The longer that we leave it for people to think this might not happen, that will mean people won’t start the transition and that it will go badly.”