Live sheep export ban: When the transition panel will deliver phase-out plan
An independent panel has finished consultations with farmers. Here’s what comes next in the government’s phase-out plan.
An independent panel formed to report on how and when the federal government should phase out live sheep exports by sea has completed its public consultations.
The panel held more than 80 face-to-face and virtual meetings and received 4100 submissions, including 800 written missives and 3300 survey responses.
It now has until September 30 to compile its report.
It comes as one of Australia’s key partners, the UK, sparked fury among animal activists after unexpectedly dumping legislation to ban live animal exports.
Australia’s live sheep export panel was formed in March after the Albanese government took a policy to outlaw the trade to the past two federal elections.
In its contribution, the Australian Livestock Exporters Association flagged that the Albanese government faced the “very real” prospect of a class action for halting the trade, along with international challenges through the World Trade Organisation.
During its short and troubled journey, farm leaders also seized on comments made by panel chair Phillip Glyde in April that the ban would negatively impact farmers and that it failed to inform farmers about a handful of public meetings in Western Australia.
Meanwhile, Mr Glyde said the September 30 reporting deadline did not leave the task force much time to “get across the details of how the industry works … and what are going to be the consequences of this transition”.
The agriculture department has opened a consultation into the nation’s livestock export standards with a view to proposing changes that maintain or improve animal health and welfare outcomes.
The 2023 Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock will probe issues relating to the export of livestock by sea and by air raised by stakeholders, including the definition of near and far markets, when an accredited veterinarian or stockperson must accompany a voyage and reserve fodder and penning requirements.
Meanwhile, the UK government angered animal activists by dropping its Kept Animals Bill, which would have banned live livestock exports, protected sheep from wild dogs and clamped down on puppy smuggling.
The once flagship policy of former Prime Minister Boris Johnston and championed by now PM Rishi Sunak pre-election was allegedly dropped after the Conservative government feared political opponents and activists could use it to demand a hunting ban.
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