Andrew Gee (Calare, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I will be opposing the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 as I don't believe this ban is in the interests of Australia's farmers or in our national interest. One of the key reasons given for this ban is animal welfare, but it ignores the huge improvements and reforms that the industry has made. These improvements have been transformational. As Charlie Thomas from the National Farmers Federation told the House Standing Committee on Agriculture's inquiry into this bill:

In 2017 the incident involving the Awassi Express shocked and disgusted farmers as much as it did the general public. That's why we demanded and embraced sweeping reforms. Those reforms, from changes to stocking densities, onboard reporting and care, the northern summer moratorium and much more, have ensured that in the last seven years we've seen a shift to gold standard animal welfare outcomes on board Australian vessels. The data on mortality rates prove this … an Australian-regulated live export vessel is just about the safest place a sheep can be.

That's a very strong submission from Mr Thomas from the National Farmers Federation—very strong evidence and compelling evidence.

The result of this ban will be that other countries which have very few or no animal welfare standards will step in and fill the market share that Australia will vacate. The National Farmers Federation CEO, Tony Mahar, put it this way:

This doesn't end the global demand for live sheep. Today's announcement just sentences foreign sheep to the practices we banned a decade ago …

He also says this about the ban:

This is not just a betrayal of Australian farmers. It runs directly counter to our national interests. We're turning our back on crucial Middle Eastern partners who have plead for this trade to continue.

"It also shows complete ignorance to the real-world implications of a ban, which will inevitably lead to poorer animal welfare outcomes.

And it will. As Mr Thomas and Mr Mahar have pointed out, the reforms and changes to animal welfare have been transformational. Now, that trade will be ceded to other countries who have very few or no such standards, which will lead to worse outcomes for animals around the globe.

This ban will also have a devastating effect on regional communities:

WoolProducers Australia CEO Jo Hall said she wanted the people sitting in Canberra to think about the respected and hardworking men and women in the sheep industry who underpin regional Australian economies for decades.

"And then I want them to tell us what they're going to do to replace jobs, put food on tables, and keep schools open—and that's just for a start.

"They're offering a ludicrous compensation package which will barely touch the edges of what will be needed to support families and their businesses—

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