Live sheep exports: Prices for Western Australia sheep tank

The sheep market in Western Australia is buckling with prices dropping to less than a third of those on the east coast.

The industry is still waiting for the findings of the independent review into the phase out, completed more than five months ago.

Western Australia’s sheep market is buckling due to ongoing uncertainty over the federal government’s live sheep export phase out, with prices dropping to less than a third of those on the east coast.

Late last week, the mutton indicator in WA was just 87c/kg carcass weight, compared to Victoria’s rate of more than 300c/kg. Lamb prices are also being affected with WA saleyard rates ranging from 287-464c/kg carcass weight, compared to 551-641c/kg in Victoria.

It comes as the federal Opposition tabled its own report into the live sheep export industry to parliament, urging the government to rethink the impending ban.

“This government is oblivious to the havoc it has created in WA – the loss of confidence in the industry, the long-term damage their actions are causing and the fact that it refuses to meaningfully engage with the industry,” the report found.

It also wants the government to acknowledge the “damage being done to WA farmers, exports supply chain participants, and the broader rural communities”.

The Coalition Agriculture Policy Committee developed its own position after meeting with about 600 industry players in early March. The report was presented as part of a private member’s motion put forward by the Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsay last week.

The industry is still waiting for the findings of the government-commissioned independent review into the phase out, completed more than five months ago.

Labor MP for Adelaide Steve Georganas told parliament the government’s decision to phase out live exports was “not ad hoc”.

“We’ve seen the suffering of these animals, and people in my electorate have been crying out about it,” Mr Georganas said.

“I’ve never received more emails on any topic apart from this one. We know that the Labor Party wants to bring in this phase-out of live sheep exports, but to do so we need to bring people along with us.”

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) said Labor MPs speaking on live sheep exports last week “were simply using tired and factually incorrect arguments”.

“The government only had tired old talking points, some even citing examples from up to 40 years ago,” Mr Harvey Sutton said.

“To call the trade defunct is insulting in the extreme to the thousands of farmers in WA that have said their businesses rely on the trade.

“I would suggest they go back to the drawing board and come up with some factual arguments. Or better yet – drop this ridiculous policy that can only cause harm to Western Australians – particularly its farmers.”