Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins reveals how $139.7m live export phase out package will be spent

WA’s sheep industry has been handed a clearer roadmap for life after live exports, with the Albanese Government finally revealing the breakdown of how its $139.7 million transition assistance package will be spent. But farmers and industry groups are still eager for more detail, with WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington labelling the Federal Government’s co-design process a “total failure” that “won’t keep farmers in sheep.” Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins made her third hush-hush visit to WA in a year this week, flying into the State to reveal how the package — announced last year — would be spent in the wake of a series of 16 “codesign” workshops with WA’s sheep industry. Ms Collins was at the Muchea Livestock Centre on Tuesday, July 15, flanked at a media conference by WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, Sheep Producers Australia chair Bindi Murray and the Federally-appointed transition advocate Dr Chris Rodwell. Ms Collins said the support package had been shaped through the input of more than 300 farmers, business owners, and community members who attended the 16 workshops in regional WA. “This transition is industry-led, government enabled and the assistance package... demonstrates this,” Ms Collins said. “I want to thank WA sheep farmers and those in the supply chain for taking part in our co-design process. “We have consulted with farmers and representative bodies to deliver the best possible investments for the industry as they move away from live sheep exports.” The biggest investment detailed in the package was an already-announced $40m to boost processing capacity set to be delivered by the State Government, with grants funding expected to open this year. This was followed by $30m for producers to “support transition for farm businesses.” Under a subheading of “long-term industry strategy and leadership”, there was $5.8m to develop “a long-term industry strategy,” including $800,000 spent to develop the strategy and $5m on rolling it out. For “market and technology systems” — which included the $40m for processors — there was $2m to support market feedback and forward contracts, and $27m to boost market demand. Under the “business and community resilience” subheading, there was $2.2m to help the WA shearing industry, $1.5m for the transport industry, and $2.4m for financial counselling services. The details announced this week total about $116m, with the remainder understood to be earmarked to for operational costs. Prior documents posted on the Department of Agriculture’s website showed $1.7m had been set aside for Dr Rodwell’s role, as well as $15.4m to “implement the phase out policy.” Countryman was not invited to the press conference that morning, with multiple farm leaders saying the entire visit had been kept quiet or they had only been alerted earlier that day. Mr Whittington said he found out about the Minister’s visit that morning and believed the funding was “not enough to keep farmers in sheep.” “We told the government during the co-design process: we need more competition, new processors, new markets... instead, we have consultants... a few retraining dollars for shearing, and no real plan to lift processing capacity,” he said. “Will it help keep sheep on WA farms? No chance.” Ms Collins would not say whether the Federal Government remained open to allocating more money to help farmers and other industry stakeholders transition away from the live sheep trade by the legislated phase out date of May 1, 2028. Instead, she repeatedly said the package was a “significant investment.” Dr Rodwell said industry had told him the $139m investment was a “good starting point.” WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said her hope was the transition package would help support a “vibrant sheep industry”, with a “bright future for sheep farmers ahead”. Federal shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud labelled the package as “too little, too late.” “Live sheep export farmers continue to be treated with contempt by Labor, because financial support is taking too long for those directly impacted,” he said. “Labor is shutting down the live sheep export industry, but now also still hasn’t helped our farmers transition in a timely and appropriate manner.” The Federal Government allocated $107m to cover the transition process in the 2024-25 Federal Budget, but the figure was bumped up to $139.7m last October after campaigning from the WA Government and industry. THE BREAKDOWN Long-term industry strategy and leadership $5.8 million towards developing and implementing a long-term industry strategy, including $5 million for industry-led projects Profitability and continuity of supply $30 million in transition support directly for producers $4 million for grower groups to deliver new on-farm extension services Market and Technology Systems $40m to boost sheep meat processing capacity, helping to grow domestic production and exports $2.2m for market feedback and forward contracts $27m to enhance market demand Business and Community Resilience $2.2 million to help shearers retrain and seek new employment opportunities $1.5 million for support in the transport sector $1.5 million for community wellbeing programs, delivered with the WA Government $2.4 million for financial counselling