The federal government's plan to phase out live sheep export by sea is purported to be based on community sentiment, but how Western Australians truly feel about the trade depends entirely on who you ask.
Parties on both sides of the debate are touting evidence of Australians being for or against the industry, however the government is yet to undertake independent and robust consultation on the matter.
This week, the RSPCA released its survey results, which found 71% of Western Australians support the federal government’s decision to phase out the trade.
RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell said the results were consistent with past independent polling on live export undertaken over many years.
“These results prove that, even in the very historical heartland of live sheep export, the vast majority of Australians are ready to see this cruel practice end,” Mr Mussell said.
“The independent poll asked a simple and straightforward question – ‘do you support the government’s policy to phase out live sheep export?’.
"The question was clear, and so was the overwhelming response from the community."
The RSPCA figures are in stark contrast to data from a LiveCorp-commissioned study, which showed an uplift in support for the live sheep trade.
In light of these conflicting results, Sheep Producers Australia chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner has called on the government to commission its own research.
“Given the indifference to the outstanding improvements and performance of the trade since 2018, and the lack of consultation and due diligence completed by government when recommitting to this policy, an alarming precedent has been set for future agricultural policy decision making," Ms Skinner said.
"The policy decisions made for Australian agriculture must be evidence-based, strategic, inclusive, and collaborative.
“To support future and current policy discussions about the sheep live export industry, the federal government must undertake independent economic and community sentiment studies which provide unbiased and robust analysis about the trade’s performance and consequences of policy reforms for Australian sheep producers.”
Despite the government maintaining its stance on the planned phase out, farmers and industry advocates continue their efforts to be heard by decision makers on the ramifications of ending the industry.
“The government’s decision to implement its policy to phase out live sheep export by sea will remove a critical demand for WA sheep, thereby reducing farmgate competition and threatening the very livelihoods of the families, businesses, and communities reliant on the WA sheep supply chain," Ms Skinner said.
"This decision also risks the enviable trading reputation that the Australian sheep industry has built with global customers over decades.”
The broader trade impacts were among several points raised by the National Farmers’ Federation in its submission to the consultation panel responsible for assessing the phase out of live sheep exports.
In making its submission public yesterday, NFF president Fiona Simson said if we start arbitrarily shutting down export markets, it sends an awful message to our customers overseas.
“We’re an exporting nation, and one of the strongest global voices for free and open agricultural trade,” Ms Simson said.
“We export over 70% of what we produce, and we’re Australia’s second largest export industry, so the broader ramifications of this need to be weighed up."
The NFF’s submission also outlined steps taken in recent years to meet community expectations.
“The live export industry has gone above and beyond to meet community expectations. We have the world’s best assurance framework to care for animals right through to processing in-market,” Ms Simson said.
“Australia stepping back from its global leadership in this space would be a backward step for animal welfare.”
The submission also points to the economic damage the ban would create, felt most acutely in Western Australia.
“We’re talking about significant job losses along the supply chain, and a long-term hit for communities, particularly in WA,” Ms Simson said.
“It’s a reckless economic own-goal at a time when we’re teetering on the brink of a recession.
"And we’re not talking about something off in the distance; the uncertainty this policy is creating is having real impacts right now.”
With formal submissions to the consultation panel now closed, farmers are calling on the government to urgently re-think its policy as the evidence mounts.
“It’s only responsible that in light of overwhelming feedback and evidence, the government take this opportunity to correct its position,” Ms Simson said.
"It should do that urgently to restore confidence to the industry in WA.”
