A parliamentary committee has backed proposed legislation to ban the live sheep export trade by sea from May 2028.
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WHAT IS LIVE SHEEP EXPORT?
* Live sheep are exported via cargo ship to another country, where they are taken off and then slaughtered
* A strong preference for live sheep exists in the Middle East due to high fodder, water and meat subsidies provided by governments
* In 2023, live sheep exports by sea rose by 22 per cent compared to 2022
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
* For decades live sheep exports have been considered inhumane and a form of animal abuse
* Animal welfare groups have accused the industry of failing to provide sheep in transit with enough food, water and good living conditions
* In 2019, 2400 sheep died of heat stress on the Awassi Express, en route to the Middle East
* In 2024, hundreds of thousands of sheep and other livestock spent weeks stranded at sea
WHAT IS AUSTRALIA'S SHEEP MEAT TRADE WORTH?
* Australia's sheep meat trade exports in 2022/23 were worth $4.5 billion
* Live sheep exports by sea made up less than two per cent of the nation's sheep meat trade, about $77m
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
* A ban would indicate on a global scale that Australia is serious about animal cruelty and abuse
* Labor pledged the ban in its 2022 federal election campaign
* It could win Labor more support from minor parties ahead of the 2025 federal election
WHO DOES IT IMPACT?
* Producers and exporters
* Regional and rural communities
* Western Australia accounts for roughly 99 per cent of the nation's live sheep exports
WHERE DO POLITICAL PARTIES STAND?
* Labor supports the banning of live sheep exports, but has ruled out proposing a wider ban on live cattle exports
* The coalition does not support the banning of live sheep exports, in particular the Nationals who are wholeheartedly against the proposal
* The Greens support Labor's proposal but believe the entire live export industry must be shut down as soon as possible
WHAT'S NEXT?
* The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is set to be debated in the Senate later in 2024
Australian Associated Press
