Sheep Producers Australia would like to commend and publicly acknowledge the Senators, especially Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, and Senator David Pocock, who have backed an inquiry into the live export of sheep by sea phase-out legislation and for the support they have shown our rural communities.

Farmers came together again in their thousands today in Western Australia (WA) as they continued their fight against the Albanese Government’s ban on the live export of sheep by sea.

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.

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.