ALEC CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton: welcomes NSW sheep trade phaseout inquiry.

LIVESTOCK exporters have welcomed a New South Wales inquiry into the phaseout of live sheep exports by seas as recognition of the trade’s national importance.

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council said the Parliament of New South Wales’ new inquiry into the impact of the legislated May 2028 phaseout on NSW demonstrated farmers across Australia were concerned about the development.

ALEC chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said despite the Federal Government trying ring fence the issue to Western Australia, the impacts would be felt across the country.

“We have repeatedly told the federal government in all our representations against the ban that this was an issue that would cause knock-on effects for farmers in other states and be devastating to the sheep and wool industry in the long term,” he said.

“NSW Farmers, AgForce (QLD), Victorian Farmers Federation and Livestock SA all wrote to the former Minister, Murray Watt to warn him of these dangers. The government knew this would cause problems and pushed ahead with the ban anyway.”

Mr Harvey-Sutton said he hoped the inquiry would examine those items that were ignored by the federal government in its rushed process, like the impacts to farmers around the country.

“It’s a shame that it has taken so long for an acknowledgement that the sheep industry is national and that restocking from different states is a required part of the industry and live exports play an important role in that.”

“The examination of the impacts on the community and the social damage that will result is also crucial, given the federal government has ignored it.”

Inquiry has wide terms of reference

The NSW inquiry’s terms of reference say it will consider the economic and social implications of the phaseout on regional NSW communities and the animal welfare considerations.

In particular it will evaluate the economic impact of phasing out live sheep exports on NSW sheep producers and related supply chains in regional towns, including transport operators, fodder and grain producers and other associated industries.

The inquiry will also evaluate the impact on the sheep industry in NSW if farmers are unable to restock with animals from Western Australia, the price implications on NSW sheep and lamb producers of having stock from WA regularly sold at our sales, whether the phaseout of live sheep exports by sea will have any impact on NSW Government revenue and bottom line, and examine potential implications in demand for NSW mutton after the phase-out of the live sheep trade.

It will also examine reasons used by the Federal Government for the phase-out of Australian live sheep exports by sea and whether the Federal Government should provide compensation to NSW sheep producers.

The inquiry will also examine animal welfare concerns relevant to the determination to cease live sheep export by sea by the Federal Government, examine the impact to local meat processors, the alternative markets and opportunities for NSW sheep producers, and explore the social and community impacts of income loss for NSW sheep producers, including the evaluation of support mechanisms for affected communities.

To lodge a submission to the inquiry click here.