Labor’s disingenuous funding brings more pain for live sheep farmers

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is reiterating a future Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade, following Labor’s announcement of disingenuous ‘extra funding’ for the ‘transition’ to phase out the trade.

Mr Littleproud said the ‘extra’ $32.7 million shouldn’t be there in the first place.

“Farmers don’t want compensation, they want their industry,” Mr Littleproud said.

“If they’re not in the industry, there will be the senseless death of millions of sheep from those countries who take up this market, that don’t have our animal welfare standards. 

“The Nationals support our farmers and our live sheep export trade and will ensure our live sheep trade returns under a future Coalition Government.

“In fact, if elected, as future Agriculture Minister, one of the first things I will do is travel to the Middle East to bring back confidence and restore trade relationships to those who seek our world-class live sheep from Australia. 

“This funding is disingenuous and a mere PR exercise. It does nothing to help the 3000 farmers who have had their livelihoods taken away.

“I challenge the Minister to travel to Katanning and do a public meeting and explain to these farmers why Labor is shutting down their industry.

“Since Labor’s previous announcement for a transition package of $107 million, which included just $64.6 million for sheep producers and the supply chain side, not one cent has gone to helping our live sheep farmers.”

Mr Littleproud pointed out live sheep exports from Australia also increased from 380,000 in 2022 to more than 654,000 in 2023.

However, Mr Littleproud added the WA flock was now decreasing from 12 million and expected to drop to eight million by 2025, with the state likely to start seeing the closure of abattoirs.

“Labor has turned its back on the farming industry and has treated our live sheep farmers with nothing but contempt.

“Labor is bowing down to animal activists, even though Australia has the world’s best animal welfare standards. It is senseless to remove ourselves from the market, because the Middle East will simply find other markets which don’t have our high animal welfare standards. 

“Farmers now know Labor is willing to sell them out and shut down a successful, world-class trade based on ideology. No amount of reform matters to Labor.

“It means any future industry, including live cattle, could be next. Only a future Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade.”