Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese government support strong animal welfare standards, and we know Australians do too. For years now, Australians have called out the live sheep export trade, describing it as cruel and inhumane. This is especially true for locals in my electorate of Corangamite. Since the people of Corangamite elected me as their representative in the federal government, they've been writing to my office, calling the trade 'barbaric and disgusting'. Many of them added their signatures to last year's 40,000-strong petition calling for a phase-out of live sheep exports. Through this petition and the many that came before, Australians have told government they want the trade to end, and the Albanese Labor government has listened. Our party went to the last two elections committing to phase out live sheep exports, and now, in government, we are acting.

This bill, the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024, will prohibit the export of live sheep by sea from Australia. The trade will be completely phased out by May 2028. This date, and our approach, strikes the right balance. It is based on extensive support for the industry and community consultation. Our plan acknowledges that farmers and the supply chain need time to prepare, and we do acknowledge that farmers are at the centre of our food supply chain. We will support farmers, and that's why we're proposing a $107 million support plan for industry to transition to onshore processing. This will deliver more local jobs and a strong and sustainable future for the Australian sheep, wool and sheepmeat industry. Importantly, our supports will be available to help all parts of the sheep industry supply chain, from farmers to truckies to shearers and processors. These workers play an important role in rural economies, and our government wants to help these workers to thrive.

It should be said the industry has been in decline for many years, down from $415 million in turnover in 2002 to $77 million in 2023. This equates to less than 0.1 per cent of Australia's estimated agricultural production. At the same time the trade in chilled and frozen lamb and sheepmeat has grown by 369 per cent, with exports to North Africa and the Middle East region more than tripling in value over the last two decades. In 2022-23, chilled and frozen sheepmeat exports earned $1.5 billion compared to $85 million for live sheep exports in that same period. This is a huge difference, and it shows that much of this live sheep export trade has been replaced by a higher value, humane alternative that is already worth 58 times more to our economy—58 times.

Given the debate today, it's worth noting that this decline in live sheep exports occurred under the watch of the Liberals and the Nationals. Over the past 10 years, when the Liberals and Nationals were in government, live sheep exports decreased by $144 million and over 1.5 million sheep, yet they stand here today claiming they back the farmers. It was on their watch that the industry declined, and not a cent of government support was provided to facilitate a transition that has been underway for the best part of 20 years. I do not often have the opportunity to acknowledge the words of a former Liberal member for Corangamite, but in this case her words in 2018 in support of ending live sheep exports still ring true. She said the following:

Overwhelmingly, the people of Corangamite are saying, 'Enough is enough.' After decades of noncompliance, after decades of inhumane treatment of sheep, after decades of tolerating a trade which continues to tarnish our international reputation, Australians are saying, 'Enough is enough'.

Unfortunately, after receiving an assistant ministerial position in the former coalition government she withdrew her support for ending of the trade. I call on the Geelong based senator, the former member for Corangamite, to stand by these convictions and support this bill in the Senate, and I call on her colleagues here in this place to do the same and support the bill. It is time to act on the evidence. It's time to recognise the myriad opportunities we have onshore—opportunities that will deliver new jobs and support for our farmers and at the same time deliver a sustainable, humane future for the industry. It is time to phase out live sheep exports.

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