Australia pushes to phase out live sheep exports to improve animal welfare

Australia is pushing ahead with plans to phase out the export of live sheep to improve animal welfare.  

The government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the trade, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a tweet, adding that the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament. 

The push comes after the Labor government made a pre-election commitment to end live sheep exports. The trade is worth A$85m ($57.2 million) and is solely based in Western Australia, said Minister Watt. 

Live sheep exports fell to below 500,000 in 2022, down from a peak of 6.5 million 20 years ago, the minister said. Meanwhile, sheep meat exports have risen from A$1 billion to $4.5 billion in the past 20 years, he said. 

The panel will report to Minister Watt by Sept. 30 and will also look at how to strengthen the local meat-processing sector, as well as how to pursue opportunities in markets like the UK and India.