January 21, 2025
Labor has failed to find a live sheep ‘transition advocate’ more than six months since it passed the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024.
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said despite the position having a $1.7 million commitment from Labor, not one single person in the entire country wanted a bar of it.
“It speaks volumes that Labor is prepared to pay millions for a phase-out co-ordinator but not one person in the country wants to take on this terrible role,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It is Australia’s least wanted, highest paying job, paying an enormous $1600 a day for up to 80 days. It is clear no one wants to be the transition advocate, because no farmer wants the phase out of live sheep exports to proceed.”
Mr Littleproud is in Bullwinkel this week and speaking to local residents about the devastating consequences that Labor’s phase-out plan is inflicting on WA.
The Nationals candidate for Bullwinkel Mia Davies said the Albanese Government had probably spent more on advertising the transition package than on actually helping the communities impacted.
“It is now 2025 and not one cent in the transition package has gone towards farmers, who actually don’t want handouts, they just want to keep their industry,” Ms Davies said.
“Labor’s funding was disingenuous from the start and a mere PR exercise. It does nothing to directly help the impacted farmers, local businesses and regional communities who all depend on the live sheep trade.
“I challenge Agriculture Minister Julie Collins to travel to the Wheatbelt and hold a public meeting this month and explain to WA farmers why Labor is deliberately destroying their industry.
“Ensuring a thriving, sustainable and lawful live sheep export industry should be a priority for any Government that cares about supporting Australian agriculture. A future Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade."
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