President of the WA Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (LRTAWA) Ben Sutherland has issued a call to the federal government to ensure rural transporters are not left behind as the ban of Australian live sheep export progresses.
Sutherland’s comments have come after he attended a co-design workshop in Albany that was promoted to address issues regarding the phase-out, but he says he feels comments and queries from those within the industry have fallen on “deaf ears”.
“I attended the workshop in good faith to make sure our members’ interests were looked after – to highlight the risks and to seek the opportunities,” Sutherland says.
“I left there with an overwhelming sense of doom that rural transporters would be left behind.
“It’s clear all the warnings about the impact of the Albanese government’s live sheep export plan have fallen on deaf ears.
“The Minister for Agriculture, Julie Collins, has said these workshops will help producers and the supply chain to ‘plan, respond and adapt’, and will be focused on the future strengths and sustainability of the industry.
“How many times do we have to say it, Minister? You have knocked the confidence out of the WA sheep industry and transport businesses are making decisions about their future now.
“They can’t afford to wait while their equipment loses value and the equity in their business evaporates.
Legislation came into effect in July 2024 to eventually stop all live sheep exports from Australia by sea by May 1, 2028. The impact is already being felt by those involved in the live sheep export supply chain, with those in Western Australia particularly impacted.
The stress is not only being felt by small operators or road transport businesses though, with live export industry titan Wellard Limited recently selling its final livestock vessel ahead of the ban.
Wellard sold the M/V Ocean Drover for $81.2 million to a Turkish-owned business, and has brought about an end to the company’s 46-year involvement with Australian live export.
The federal government has committed over $100 million over five years in industry transition assistance, which is set to become available after 2025.
However, Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) Executive Director Rachel Smith told ATN in 2024 that over half of that funding was committed to government departments to oversee the phase-out.
Sutherland has labelled the whole co-design workshop process as “condescending” and “insulting” to rural transporters and communities.
“I could see no evidence at the workshop of a genuine attempt to understand where the supply chain finds itself,” he continues.
“As far as I’m concerned, the department is ticking a box to says they have consulted, which is condescending and insulting to rural transporters who have significant capital investment at risk.
“With a 25 per cent drop in WA’s sheep flock our work is being badly affected. The void is just not being filled by an already inadequate processing sector or by transporting sheep to other states.
“We know it is only going to get worse with another 25 per cent drop in sheep numbers on the horizon.
“Even if the sheep industry miraculously recovers, it will be too late for many rural transporters.
“Primary producers will find they don’t have access to professional transporters in their area and their costs will increase.
“It’s an insult to the people who live and work in rural communities … we’re being left behind.”
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