Funding for WA sheep farmers on hold until July 2025

Funding for WA sheep farmers to transition out of live exports will become available in the next financial year, senate estimates has heard today.

WA sheep farmers operating in the live export space will not receive any funding from the $139.7 million transition package until July 2025, senate estimates heard on Tuesday.

The federal government is undertaking a codesign process with relevant industry bodies to determine eligibility requirements for support and payment schedules, with $45.5 million of the total transition package earmarked for farmers, livestock transporters and associated parties, with producers able to access funding next financial year.

“A codesign process will be established in the next little while, and through that process we’ll identify and establish guidelines that will enable the supply chain to make applications,” Andrew McDonald from the Department of Agriculture said.

“We want to ensure that we get the program right to support as many participants as possible,” assistant minister of agriculture Anthony Chisholm said.

As of 2022-23, 3700 broadacre farms in WA had a flock of more than 100 sheep, with around 10-12 per cent of turn-off of sheep from WA farms ending up in the live sheep export trade.

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said the economic impact of the ban was being felt right now by sheep producers.

“In none of the design of the shut down did you think about getting support front-loaded for these farmers until after the next election,” she said to Minister Chisholm.

“Now it is glaringly obvious why the Keep the Sheep campaign is so necessary in Western Australia.”

Senate estimates also heard no specific exit assistance grants will be offered to sheep producers who want to just exit the industry, and not transition, with Senator Matt Canavan questioning the government on the plan.

“I can’t find an example where the government has put significant regulatory changes on an industry and hasn’t funded exit payments … Why haven’t you allowed people to just take an exit package?” he said.

“Because we think there’s a good opportunity for sheep meat in this country and that’s what we want to develop. We’ve heard evidence that it will create jobs and we think there’s a good economic opportunity to do that,” Mr Chisholm said in response.

To date, of the full $139.7 million transition package, no money has been spent on the ground, with $0.9 million spent on administrative costs as of September 30.