Funding to support live sheep export phase out announced

The Albanese Labour Government yesterday announced further details of the $139.7 million sheep industry transition assistance package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea.

The release of this package follows a series of industry co-design workshops held in Western Australia earlier this year.

The 16 workshops attracted over 300 participants to map out the best way forward for the Western Australian sheep industry.

The package will assist individuals, businesses and communities to confidently plan and adapt to laws passed by the Australian Parliament to end live sheep exports by sea from 1 May 2028.

It will also help farmers and the rest of the supply chain capitalise on the opportunities from this transition and the increasing demand for sheep meat domestically and globally.

The assistance package includes further details on how the Albanese Labor Government will deliver the $139.7 million in funding and includes:

$40 million to enhance processing supply chain capacity and $1.5 million for community wellbeing support delivered in partnership with the Western Australian Government;

$30 million for producers to support transition for farm businesses and $4 million for grower groups to support new on-farm extension services;

$2.4 million in financial counselling services, $2.2 million for shearers to seek new employment opportunities and training, and $1.5 million to support the transport industry; and

$5.8 million towards a long-term industry strategy, including $0.8 million to develop a strategy and $5 million towards funding projects developed in the strategy.

The live sheep export by sea trade was worth $411 million in 2002-03 and declined to $41 million in 2023-24. Sheep meat exports increased to a whopping $4.8 billion in 2023-24 and are set to grow further.