Australia's Liberal-National Coalition opposition seeks to reinstate the live sheep export trade and ensure that the country's live cattle export trade is protected, the group said on Saturday, April 19.
Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud said bringing back the live sheep export trade and, "restoring confidence to Western Australian farmers," will be his first priority if elected.
Mr Littleproud added that, if elected Agriculture Minister, the very first trip he will make will be to the Middle East, "to build those important relationships and ensure the live sheep export trade in Australia remains."
The Australian Government announced last year that the export of live sheep by sea will end on May 1, 2028.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said that trade can continue until the end date without any additional restrictions such as caps or quotas. The prohibition will not apply to other livestock export industries, such as live cattle exports, nor will it apply to live sheep exports by air.
"Labor is bowing down to animal activists, even though Australia has the world’s best animal welfare standards," said Mr Littleproud. "It is senseless to remove ourselves from the market, because the Middle East will simply find other markets [that] don’t have our high animal welfare standards."
"We’ve seen this form from Labor governments before, such as when they attempted to cripple the northern Australian cattle industry with their illegal ban on cattle exports to Indonesia, just as mustering season was getting underway," added Paul Brown, the Nationals' WA Senate candidate.
“We tried to tell the government, we warned them this would happen and now we are seeing it play out," remarked Valerie Pretzel, Western Australia Shearing Industry Association Executive Officer. "For the good of agriculture, regional WA and the state, this ban must be overturned."