Live sheep export trade to end in 2028 as Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announces $107m support package

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The federal government has announced Australia will stop exporting live sheep from May 1, 2028 while unveiling a $107 million package to help the industry transition.

Transcript

00:00 The long-awaited end date finally revealed.

00:05 Today, we are mapping out a plan for the future of the sheep industry in Western Australia

00:11 that delivers more value-adding onshore, which means more jobs locally.

00:16 The Government will provide $107 million to support the phase-out over the next five years.

00:23 This transition will go better and set the industry up better for the future if the transition begins soon.

00:30 So some of the funding that we're providing is to encourage early movement.

00:34 Almost $65 million will help local sheep producers and the supply chain.

00:39 This compensation package will not even touch the size, it won't even reach farmers,

00:43 it won't even reach producers and the people that are in the industry.

00:45 It will be tied up with consultants.

00:47 Last year, Australia sent almost 600,000 live sheep abroad by sea, but the number has been dropping over the past two decades.

00:56 The Nationals say they'll work to see the ban reversed.

01:00 Nobody in a regional economy can feel that they have Canberra on their side when decisions are being made like this.

01:08 The issue came under the spotlight earlier this year when thousands of livestock were stuck on board the MV Bahija for five weeks.

01:16 Sparking concern from animal welfare advocates.

01:20 I think it shows that community attitudes to animal welfare have changed over time.

01:25 And I think we see that in a lot of industries.

01:28 Legislation to begin the transition will be introduced in this term of Parliament.

01:33 element.

01:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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