Why proposed live export ban should concern all farmers

WA sheep producers will be the first affected by a ban of live exports, but a leading ag figure says all Australian farmers should be worried if it happens.

Eastern states sheep producers should be just as worried as their West Australian counterparts over the proposed ban of live export of sheep as science makes way for politics.

That’s the view of WoolProducers Australia chief executive Jo Hall who said the were implications more broadly for agriculture should the ban be enforced.

The livestock carrier Awassi Express, moored at Fremantle Port in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Tony McDonough

While the number of sheep exported from Adelaide and Portland has all but dried up, the pattern of government decisions ignoring science was concerning, Ms Hall said.

“The precedence of closing an entire trade based on nothing more than ‘an election promise’ which is not based on science or evidence, should be a concern for all involved in agriculture, regardless of if they are directly involved in the trade or not,” Ms Hall said.

“When governments start basing decisions on ideology and can shut down an entire industry because activists have made some emotive claims, it is easy to envisage that an industry practice such as mulesing, or the use of a chemical such as glyphosate could also be ceased on the whim of a government.

“This demonstrates that this decision does have implications for us all.”

Ms Hall said while WoolProducers did not usually become involved in issues like live export, due the “meat” nature of the trade, she said it was important to have a voice to stop decisions being made without rigour.

“While red meat is an important but secondary consideration to the wool industry this ill-informed policy decision has many ramifications for the wool industry and the broader agricultural sector, particularly as the current government can provide no justification for this decision other than it was an election promise.” she said.

In 2018, WoolProducers resolved to continue to support the live export of sheep “on adherence to animal welfare standards underpinned by science”.

The group’s position came after footage emerged from the voyage of the Awassi Express which she said showed “sheep in awful conditions en route to the Middle East”.

WoolProducers has since kept abreast of those animal welfare standards, which Ms Hall said had seen mortality rates during live export drop from 0.47 per cent in 2018 to 0.13 per cent in 2022.

”This is demonstrable evidence that the trade has improved and that the Australian live export industry has the highest standards of animal welfare in the world,” Ms Hall said.

“The Australian Government shutting down a legitimate industry due to perceived concerns about animal welfare, when the industry is meeting and exceeding government-set metrics on animal welfare, is counterintuitive to establishing a thriving economy and makes no sense economically or logically.”

An independent panel will provide a report on consultations with stakeholders to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by September 30 this year. The consultation process received more than 4100 submissions.