Independent Alex Dyson, far right, speaks at the Wannon form, with from left, Bernardine Atkinson, Labor’s Fiona Mackenzie, Liberal Dan Tehan, One Nation’s Leo Curtain and the Greens candidate Kate Gazzard.

WANNON electorate independent candidate Alex Dyson has refused to state whether he supported or opposed live animal exports in the lead up to the federal election, sparking industry concern.

The Albanese Government’s phaseout of the live sheep trade by sea is seen as a ‘red line’ issue by Australian agriculture and 23 farming organisations signed a letter to the Prime Minister in 2023 seeking the reversal of the proposed May 2028 ban.

Mr Dyson is regarded as the main opponent for Liberal incumbent Dan Tehan in key marginal seat in south-west Victoria, a leading sheep and beef production region.

Sheep have not been exported from Portland for several years, although in the trade’s heyday vessels would often stop at the port to load sheep or goats. Cattle exports have continued from Portland.

At a recent Wannon election forum in Warrnambool, candidates were asked if the end of the live sheep trade would represent a lost opportunity for the port city and region, and whether they would act to change the legislated policy to phase out live sheep exports via sea.

Labor candidate Fiona Mackenzie said the sheep trade is being stopped because of RSPCA and public concerns about the treatment of sheep on export vessels. She and her surrounding farmers thought it was horrific to see the treatment of sheep being exported. For the trade to continue there would have to be some very good guarantees in place and regulations would have to be followed, she said.

Independent Bernardine Atkinson said with cheap nuclear fueled energy Australia could process its sheep onshore creating jobs, while avoiding the hazards of live sheep exports.

The One Nation candidate Leo Curtain said the party supported live cattle and sheep exports.

“It’s an industry that creates a lot of income into this country.”

Mr Dyson said his campaign had been talking to farmers and held a roundtable in Heywood that pointed out the government can’t make knee-jerk decisions about industries like live export.

“And the other point is ….. farmers care about their animals more than anyone.”

Mr Dyson said a farmer told him Australia did live animal exports better than any country in the world. He was willing to listen to experts and farmers, and he was prepared to have a “positive discussion” about whether “holistically” the animals would be better coming from Australia than other countries. He said if there is a ban and it was “out of our hands” it was an issue of making sure that “our farmers are not left behind, because they are struggling at the moment.”

The Coalition has vowed to reverse the Albanese live sheep trade ban and Mr Tehan said he wanted to be part of a government that supports industries “that doesn’t shut it down.”

“The real worry with what is happening to the sheep industry through this ban which they’ve put in place is, especially in Western Australia, it is decimating farmers when they can least afford it.

“Our worry is that now that we’ve started with the sheep industry that next will be the cattle industry,” he said.

“We have to remember the fact that there are markets for these live animals and we have the best regulations in the world in how we ship our livestock to these markets.”

He said if Australia discontinued live exports, other countries that don’t have the same regulations with the same precautions would supply the markets, but without the animal welfare outcomes achieved by Australia while supporting farmers.

Wannon Liberal incumbent Dan Tehan talks at the candidates’ forum.

Dyson unavailable, down with the flu, will talk after election

When Sheep Central sought clarification of Mr Dyson’s stance on live sheep exports after the forum,  campaign volunteer Shelly Murrell said he was willing to discuss live animal exports after the May 3 election and then this week advised that he was down with the flu and unavailable.

In a statement to Sheep Central today, Mr Dyson said agriculture is the backbone of the Wannon electorate region, and getting a better deal for local farmers is a key priority for him.

“When our farmers are doing well, our whole region does well.

“I have been speaking with hundreds of local farmers during this campaign,” he said.

“If elected as a community-backed Independent, I will continue to be guided by their voices – including on the issue of live animal export.

“Unlike Dan Tehan and the other major party candidates, I answer to Wannon – and our local farmers – not to any party bosses in Canberra,” he said.

“I know that local farmers are doing it really tough at the moment – particularly with the nearly two years of dry conditions that they have been dealing with.

“My main focus is on securing the immediate support they need, as well as on fixing the federal drought support system, which is currently failing our region,” Mr Dyson said.

“If the incoming government proposes any changes to live animal export, I will work to protect the interests of our local farmers, and get the best deal possible for our region.

“I know that farmers care about their animals more than anyone, so I will be guided by their advice on this issue,” he said.

However, Mr Dyson would not say if he supported the Albanese Government’s phaseout of the live sheep trade by sea or the trade’s retention. He also would not state if he would lobby or vote to reverse the Albanese live sheep trade legislation or if his stance on the issue is tempered by a desire to maximise or broaden your voting support among city and Greens voters. Mr Dyson also would not outline what western Victorian farmers have advised him were their attitudes to live sheep exports or whether he believed the Albanese Government’s transitional package is adequate.

Keep the Sheep on ‘Put Alex Dyson Last’

The pro-live sheep export lobby group Keep the Sheep has been distributing ‘Put Alex Dyson’ cards during the election, member and former WAFarmers president John Hassell said.

Mr Hassell said Mr Dyson is not being transparent with the voters and can’t be trusted.

“If has genuinely consulted with farmers he would had a resounding result that banning the live trade is bad, because we know it’s just not about animal welfare.

“It’s also about a methodology of doing government, and we can’t afford for that happen,” he said.

Mr Hassell said if Mr Dyson was genuine and has consulted with farmers he would know that every farmers is against the Albanese Government’s method of forming its live sheep trade policy.

Mr Hassell said the government’s policy was formed after animal welfare groups paid ship staff to create the distressed conditions for sheep on the Awassi Express, and there were preference deals done between the ALP and the Animal Justice Party. He said the state WA Government had recently done a preference deal with the AJP that led to the election of an AJP candidate in the Upper House.

Mr Hassell said Mr Dyson’s statements indicated he is prepared to do deals that might trade away support for retention of the live sheep trade.

“Absolutely, he is prepared to do whatever it takes to get himself elected.”

Mr Hassell said WA independent Kate Chaney would not commit to supporting the trade until Keep the Sheep started campaigning to “Put Kate Chaney last.”

“Until then she was obfuscating and she knew her seat was on the line on this issue and this bloke’s seat ought to be on the line over this issue as well.”

Dyson comments indicate opposition to live sheep exports – Tehan

Mr Tehan said he interpreted Mr Dyson’s comment — “If the incoming government proposes any changes to live animal export, I will work to protect the interests of our local farmers, and get the best deal possible for our region” – as indicating the independent opposed live sheep exports.

“So he is basically saying that with any change he would consult, but the current (government) policy is to ban it so he is saying he supports the ban.

“The electorate of Wannon rightly would want to know the position of someone standing to represent them on issues like live exports and on issues like an offshore wind farm of the coast of Port Fairy and Warrnambool.

“And if a candidate cannot be clear on where he stand on these issues then voters should have grave doubts in their mind as to whether this candidate is sincere or not,” he said.

Mr Tehan said the “great fear” is that live cattle exports will be banned next.

“And what it points to, if someone won’t take a stand then there is a real danger that live cattle will be next.”

Mr Tehan said if conditions and demand warrants the opening up of the live sheep trade again out of Portland, he would support it.

Mr tehan believes that Wannon farmers would have been telling Mr Dyson that they didn’t want governments that shut down rural industries.

“They want governments that support them.”

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said a vote for an independent at this election is a vote for the Labor Government, which will lead to the phase out of live sheep exports.

“It is clear the independent candidate (My Dyson) has no interest in fighting for the live sheep export trade and the farmers who will be impacted by Labor’s terrible decision.

“An elected Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade,” he said.

“It is therefore crucial that farmers who want to ensure the live sheep export trade is reinstated vote for Dan Tehan in the seat of Wannon at this election.”

Farmers will vote for their interests – SPA

Sheep Producers Australia chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner said farmers will vote for the candidates that best suit their interests and it’s up to them to make their own decisions.

“Sheep Producers Australia first and foremost wants the ban on live export of sheep by sea overturned, to secure the future of the WA sheep industry.

“Sheep Producers Australia has been fighting tirelessly to advocate for our farmers, opposing this poorly considered decision while trying to ensure that if the live export ban cannot be stopped or overturned, our farmers, their businesses, and their communities will still receive the support they need to survive the transition,” she said.