The Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, which means the May 1, 2028 end date for the export of live sheep by sea is one step closer to being set in law.
The passage of legislation also brings the $107 million support package for the Australian sheep supply chain one step closer to being available.
The next step for the bill being passed is the progression onto the Senate where, if passed, the legislation will come into law.
“The passage of this Bill will provide certainty to all stakeholders and enable the roll-out of the programs under the transition support package to being in the next financial year,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt says.
“Our transition strikes a balance between improving sheep welfare and providing time for a sustainable pathway for sheep farmers, the supply chain participants and communities in Western Australia, and for our trading partners to adjust.
“The Australian government is committed to seeing Australia’s domestic and international sheep meat markets continue to grow and offer more opportunities to Australian producers and processors.
“Ending live sheep exports by sea marks a considerable step forward for animal welfare, while capitalising on opportunities to create more jobs onshore in sheep meat processing.
Many of those involved in the live sheep export have been heavily opposed to the change in legislation, with the ‘Keep the Sheep’ petition now containing more than 62,000 signatures.
Over 13,000 submissions were also made to government ahead of discussion of the bill in the House of Representatives.
Federal government figures state the 2022-23 value of live sheep export was $77 million, while the entire value of Australian sheep meat exports was $4.5 billion.
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