Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, has lodged a motion to disallow the regulation made by the former Federal Government that shortens the northern summer live sheep export trade prohibition period.
“In April 2022, the decision was made by the Department of Agriculture to roll back a ban on exporting sheep to some areas of the Middle East by allowing exports to resume between 1 and 14 June,” Mr Wilkie said. “This was an abhorrent decision as it means exposing sheep to the blistering summer months of the region where temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees and heat stress is off the scale.
“Whistleblower footage and multiples reviews have shown that sheep suffer terribly while onboard these shipments between May and October, and exposing them to this type of heat is proven to lead to mass sheep fatalities.
“Ultimately the live animal export trade is systemically cruel and must be banned outright. It is unfathomable that the industry can still exist when the welfare of animals is so obviously jeopardised. This is why I have previously introduced bills to end this vile trade, but, unfortunately, none have got any support from Labor or Liberal. While the new Labor Government has committed to phasing out the industry, the process to end this cruelty must start immediately.”