Farmers came together again in their thousands today in Western Australia as they continued their fight against the Albanese Government’s ban on the live export of sheep by sea. Sheep Producers Australia Board Director and local farmer Bindi Murray said the Inquiry into Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 sought to phase out an important supply chain which provided jobs and supported families, small businesses, and country towns.

The decision by the Albanese government to announce the live sheep by sea policy phase-out timeline on Saturday ahead of this week's budget further cements the complete and utter lack of understanding they have for our agricultural industries and support for regional Australians.

Sheep Producers Australia and Cattle Australia welcome today’s announcement by the Cook Government of a $8.6 million funding package to support our Western Australian producers.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the inquiry. Sheep Producers Australia is the national peak body for the Australian sheepmeat industry, representing close to 20,000 sheep production businesses. Sheep Producers Australia opposes the Australian Government's policy to phase out live sheep exports by sea and the Bill, which seeks to legislate the policy.

Today’s announcement by the Commonwealth has shown a complete disregard for our people and a lack of understanding and awareness of the current situation within Western Australia (WA). Sheep Producers Australia and WoolProducers Australia as the peak industry councils will continue to unite and fight against this ridiculous policy and fight for the people whose livelihoods and mental health are being destroyed.

Last week 300 farmers from across the South West convened an urgent drought meeting to
address what is one of the driest seasons experienced in living memory across what is
traditionally the wettest part of the State.

Sheep Producers Australia provided the Western Australia (WA) Dry Season Taskforce with the survey findings at its last meeting held on. The survey was open from 26 April – 8 May 2024 and was completed by just under 650 producers, most of whom were from mixed livestock, grains, fodder, and hay enterprises in the south-west and south-coast.

Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, and Western Dairy have made the decision to extend the 2024 WA Seasonal and Market Conditions Producer Survey now closing next Wednesday 8 May 2024.

The Western Australian (WA) sheep industry is currently facing an incredibly difficult situation brought on by ongoing dry conditions, financial constraints, and a severely depressed sheep market.