WA farmers launch last-minute bid to stop Bill banning export of live sheep

Rebel Labor senator Fatima Payman is being urged to again cross the floor to vote against the government’s Bill to stop live sheep exports and stand up for her home state of Western Australia.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said Senator Payman had the opportunity to take a stand by voting against the Bill, which is before the Senate, and back both Western Australia and Palestine.

“We’ve now got Western Australian senators who have an opportunity, as Senator Fatima Payman said and did last week, in crossing the floor,” Mr Littleproud told reporters.

“Please appreciate that she’s prepared to cross the floor for the Palestinian people. She should cross the floor again for the Western Australian people.

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“But Senator Fatima Payman should also understand that, in fact, some of our sheep from this country is at the moment going into the Gaza.

“It is on a humanitarian mission to save lives and around food security.”

Senator Payman, who has been suspended from Labor caucus indefinitely after defying the Prime Minister by promising to vote again for Palestinian statehood, is from Western Australia, the only state still engaged in the live sheep export business.

The Bill proposes to ban the export of live sheep by sea from Australia from May 1, 2028.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said Senator Payman could vote against the Bill to support her WA constituents and Palestine. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

Senator Payman has been suspended from caucus after crossing the floor to vote against Labor policy on Palestine. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

A Keep the Sheep delegation from Western Australia was at Parliament House on Monday, pleading with senators to vote against phasing out the live sheep export trade by May 1, 2028.

Keep the Sheep campaigner Ben Sutherland said the livelihoods of 3000 people and a trade that had the world’s best animal welfare standards were at stake.

“We are in Canberra asking senators to support our trade, to keep our rural businesses and communities going and to keep farmers farming as the live sheep phase-out Bill is tabled and likely voted on in the Senate today,” Mr Sutherland said.

“We are also warning that banning live sheep will lead to banning live cattle next.”

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Senator Bridget McKenzie held a press conference with the Keep the Sheep movement at Parliament House on Monday. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

Mr Littleproud said the Nationals were also trying to get the support of independent senator Lidia Thorpe to block the Bill.

“We’re trying to talk to Lidia Thorpe as well about significant jobs, Indigenous communities that will be lost.”

The Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Export by Sea) Bill 2024 was passed in the House of Representatives

The export ban delivers on a commitment made by Labor prior to the 2022 election following concerns of ill treatment of stock en route to abattoirs overseas.

A Labor-helmed inquiry rubber-stamped the government’s proposed ban on live sheep exports by sea and said the planned $107m support package for sheep farmers and other supply chain participants was not enough.

Mr Littleproud said the Coalition would reinstate the industry if it won the next election.