Pressure builds on Federal Labor to scrap live export ban after Cook Govt’s Aboriginal heritage backflip

Farm leaders are urging Anthony Albanese to “take note” of the Cook Government’s unprecedented scrapping of updated Aboriginal heritage laws, saying “it’s not too late” to abandon Labor’s plan to ban live sheep exports. The WA Government was forced into the spectacular backflip after an angry outcry from private landowners, including farmers who rallied in their hundreds on the steps of State Parliament earlier this month. Their sights now firmly set on saving the embattled live sheep trade, the heads of WA’s two biggest farm lobby groups have vowed to personally take the fight to Canberra before the year’s end. WAFarmers president John Hassell — who, along with Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook, has promised to “tromp the halls of Parliament” — said the organisations would continue putting pressure on Federal Labor. “I have also put it to the Premier that he needs to take a motion to the Federal caucus and say that the live trade (ban) policy needs to be overturned,” Mr Hassell said. “He’s said he’d take it on board but there’s no guarantee there.” Countryman put the question to WA Premier Roger Cook’s office but did not receive a yes or no answer. In a written response, a State Government spokesman said Mr Cook “will always stand up for Western Australians”. “That is why he has been consistent and clear in his fight to achieve the best possible outcome for WA’s sheep industry,” the spokesman said. “The State Government believes the existing measures are working well, including the northern summer live export ban, plus additional vet checks and monitoring.” The spokesman did not answer the question of whether a new embassy set up to “advance the interests of WA in Canberra” would be used to advocate for the continuation of the live sheep trade. “The State Government recently made a submission to the Federal Government’s live export panel that warned of potentially devastating knock-on impacts on the sheep industry, and risks to rural communities and the State economy,” he said. “That is why it is crucial that any move to end the live export industry requires a significant, longer-term transition plan put in place to protect jobs, regional communities and the economy. “The WA Hub in Canberra will be a further opportunity for Western Australians to advocate for our interests in our nation’s capital.” Farm organisations nationwide including the WA Grains Group have unanimously condemned the policy to phase-out live sheep exports. Asked whether the Cook Government’s repeal of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act gave him any hope of a backdown by the Albanese Government, WAGG chair Alastair Falconer said: “I certainly hope so”. “It’s an industry that’s ticked all the boxes and done the best it could for animal welfare, and it’s still getting shut down,” he said. “That has wider implications for agriculture, because what’s next? “No matter how good we are as stewards or how sustainable we are as farmers, there’s no guarantee that we can keep doing what we need to do.” Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt last month claimed the live sheep trade had “lost community support” and that ending it was “the right thing to do” — despite acknowledging vast improvements in animal welfare outcomes in recent years. “I recognise the improvements exporters have made to animal welfare standards when it comes to live sheep exports, but the reality is … this industry has by and large lost community support,” he said. “We have a responsibility as a government to do the right thing, to uphold strong animal welfare standards, but also to make sure farming communities and individual farmers are supported in that change process.” Though Senator Watt has promised no such ban is on the cards for the live cattle trade, industry players are far from convinced, while animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA continue to lobby for an end to all live exports. Cattle Australia, the national peak body for grass-fed cattle producers, this week renewed calls for Federal Labor to drop the ban plan while welcoming the repeal of the ACHA. “The Federal Government should take note as they consider the future of the live sheep export industry,” Cattle Australia chair David Foote said. “It takes courage to do what’s right and to set policy based on evidence rather than ideology.” Mr Foote said there was overwhelming evidence Australia’s live export industry operated with world-class welfare standards. “The industry also underpins the economies of numerous regional economies and contributes to the viability of many grain-producing operations,” he said. “It is not too late to do what’s right and scrap plans for a phase-out of live sheep exports.” A spokeswoman for the Albanese Government told Countryman it had no such intention. “The Albanese Government has committed to phasing out live sheep exports, and is focussed on delivering a considered and orderly transition, which is why we have been clear the phase out will not occur during this term of parliament,” she said. “The Government will continue to engage constructively with industry about growth opportunities that exist outside of the live sheep export trade, including an expansion of onshore processing.”