SHEEP producers across Western Australia are undertaking significant destocking and early job losses have started – and yet not a single cent in transition support has left Canberra, Sheep Producers Australia claims.

It has been 11 months since the government received the Independent Panel’s report, and three months since the passing of the legislation – and still the industry remains uncertain about how the transition and funding package will be implemented. No clarity has been provided on how the transition package will support producers and their businesses or the supply chain, SPA said in a statement.

Bindi Murray

“Farmers, shearers, transporters, and community members clearly expressed during the inquiry the damage already done and the fears of more to come if Labor pushed this legislation through,” SPA director and WA sheep producer Bindi Murray said.

“These are real people with real concerns,” she said. “It’s the sheep farmer telling me at the school assembly that he’s put his last sheep on the truck despite generations of breeding because the risk is too great. It’s the shearing contractor who tells me about the jobs he’s lost as people sell their ewes. It’s the truck driver who’s put plans for better stock crates on hold, trying to keep the business afloat.”

The uncertainty created by the situation was forcing wool handlers to consider taking jobs in other industries, Ms Murray claimed.

Sheep Producers Australia was assured by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July that rural communities would not be left behind as Labor pushed forward with the legislation. Yet as the deadline looms, our government support is absent.

“People are hurting now. They’re making the hard decisions now. And there’s nothing in place to help. It feels like we’re in the chair for a root canal, and the anaesthetist has called in sick.” Ms Murray said.

While the government promised a $107 million package, not a single support measure has been delivered, SPA claimed this morning. The promised ‘Transition Advocate’ had still not been appointed, and neither had any of the mental health support services been implemented, it said.

Sheep Producers Australia said it was continuing to raise these issues with the government including pathways to a more equitable funding package, which is currently woefully inadequate to grow onshore processing and increase the value of production.

Sheep Producers Australia CEO Bonnie Skinner

“We are engaging in good faith to try to achieve a better outcome for our producers, but it’s hard to see how this can happen when the government refuses to acknowledge the reality of the situation on the ground,” SPA chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner said.

“We said early on that a funding package of at least three times what has been announced would be the minimum required to support a least harm implementation pathway for the sheep industry to try to adapt in less than four years.” Ms Skinner said.

As uncertainty grows and government inaction continues, the industry has demanded that the government be held accountable for the harm caused by its policy.

“Government must be held to account for its role when bad policy affects good people and communities. Sheep producers face the same cost of living pressures as everyone else, but their income has gone AWOL,” Ms Skinner said.

“The government is making our sheep producers pay for the damage caused by this poorly thought-out policy.”

Source: SPA