Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024

Sue Lines

The question now is that the second reading amendment circulated by the opposition on sheet 2695 be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendment—

Omit all words after "That", substitute "the Senate:

(a) criticises the Government for imposing its reckless and ideological decision to shut down Australia's live sheep export industry by sea;

(b) recognises that:

(i) Australia's live sheep export industry employs more than 3,000 people in Western Australia, including shearers, truck drivers, fodder suppliers, livestock agents, farmers and producers,

(ii) these workers now face the prospect of losing their job, and families that are struggling under financial stress may now face a difficult decision to leave their rural towns and communities,

(iii) this industry has delivered comprehensive reforms which have secured exemplary animal welfare outcomes, and

(iv) Australia has the highest standards of animal welfare in the world;

(c) further criticises the Government for the mismanagement and lack of consultation on this policy to end live sheep exports with farmers, sheep producers and impacted communities;

(d) acknowledges that this policy is widely and strongly opposed across the agriculture sector;

(e) expresses concern that if the live sheep export industry is banned, alternatives will be sourced from countries that do not share Australia's animal welfare standards, resulting in perverse international animal welfare outcomes; and

(f) calls on the Government to immediately reverse its policy to shut down this industry".