Young WA farmer calling on city folk to support live export battle

A young West Australian farmer is using her social media network to call on city dwellers to support farmers in the live sheep export trade battle.

Conor Fowler

@conorfowler5

2 min read

June 14, 2024 - 5:12PM

The Weekly Times

Murray Watt ‘completely underestimated’ backlash over live sheep export ban

A young West Australian farmer is using her social media network to implore city folk to educate themselves on the live sheep export trade.

Liv Fowler, 26, runs 35,000 Merino sheep as a self-replacing flock on 18,500ha near Esperance with her parents and brother, as well as cropping, and said the unrealistic accusations that the federal government has put on farmers has made it difficult to keep quiet.

“I get the sense that farmers are generally quiet people, it’s not often we’re in the spotlight in mainstream media … so even though social media is not my favourite medium, I felt that I had to at least try some way of inspiring people to seek out the facts,” she said.

With almost 80,000 views on her video and new campaign Keep The Sheep partnering with her in her efforts, the young farmer is spreading the message urging city people to learn where their meat, veg, milk and beer are coming from; to check the labels on their clothing; and to seek information on the industry from people involved in agriculture.

Liv Fowler from Esperance is encouraging city folk to educate themselves on the agricultural industry and sheep. Picture: Supplied

Ms Fowler said live exports provided a “crucial competition component vital to a strong market”, and that the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System animal exporters must adhere to had an “overwhelmingly positive outcome for livestock” globally.

“If we are to withdraw from the live export space, there will no longer be any incentive to adhere to ESCAS, and the sheep that will fill the void caused by our absence will be dealt with however the buyers or sellers desire, well away from the scrutiny of anyone at all,” she said.

It comes as a snap parliamentary inquiry into the bill continued on Friday in Muresk, 100km north-east of Perth, with hundreds of WA farmers lining the road into the town to make their voices heard.

WA Farmers vice-president Steve McGuire said live export was farmers’ “get-out-of-jail free card”.

“What the federal government is asking us to do, is to put all our eggs in the abattoir basket. WA farmers farm poor soils in a challenging climate in a heavily regulated environment … we need to manage our risk,” he said.

“If (the government) can guarantee that they will keep all the markets free and open, that air freight will stay open, that you’ll sort out the Fremantle port, that abattoirs won’t close, they won’t have a fire, they’ll have enough labour, that there won’t be a drought, then sure, we’ll be fine. But you can’t guarantee that.”