Australia announces Date for End of Live Sheep Exports 1 May 2028

The end date will be legislated in the Labor government’s current term, after the Department of Agriculture (DAFF) developed a plan for the phase out of the industry which considered the analysis of an independent panel established for the purpose.

The government has committed $107 million over five years for sheep producers and the supply chain to plan for and adjust to the phase out. Early action is being encouraged by the provision of funding now.

Australia's lamb and mutton exports were worth $4.5 billion in 2022-23 whereas live sheep exports by sea were less than $77 million in 2022-23, less than 0.1% of Australia's estimated agricultural production in that year.

"While live sheep exports have shrunk by $338 million over the past 20 years, our sheepmeat exports have grown by over 300% over that same period, with exports to the North Africa and Middle East region more than tripling in value over this period,” said Watt.

He says the community expects Australia to have the world’s best animal welfare practices, and the funding will include $2.6 million towards additional animal welfare measures during the transition.

The phase out is the result of animal welfare concerns which have plagued the industry throughout its history.

The professional veterinary association, Vets Against Live Export (VALE) was established in 2011 following revelations of cruelty inflicted on Australian cattle exported to Indonesia. VALE continues to monitor the industry and has claimed that sheep being transported to port in March 2024 had wool length longer than allowed under Australia’s export standards.

VALE spokesperson Dr Sue Foster welcomed the confirmation that the sheep trade is to be phased out and countered concerns that animals will now be sourced from countries with lower welfare standards by saying: “The sheep will come largely from eastern Africa, they will be from the same climate zone, well acclimatized, used to handling, have a much shorter voyage and will die from unstunned slaughter in end destination as they would have at source, unlike Australian sheep. This is a net welfare gain.”

However, Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton denounced the government’s announcement of the package for the phase out of live sheep by sea as a disgrace, saying it was clear that the government was throwing out Australia’s vital agricultural industries in favor of activist ideologies as well as a few votes.

“This is a paltry package that completely ignores the complexity of the Australian sheep farming supply chain. It’s an insulting way to attempt to compensate for a ban that will decimate West Australian farmers and their families,” he said.