Government must act now to extend the ban on live export to the Middle East

Thousands of Australian animals die in transit. Many that survive the journey are handled roughly at their destination and are killed while fully conscious. Too many suffer outright brutality.

The only way to protect these animals is to ban the trade, but the current government won’t end live animal export.

Instead, the Government has released three options to reduce the suffering of Australian sheep on live export voyages to the Middle East, in the Northern Summer.

Simone Clarke, Executive Director of World Animal Protection said; 

“While no option goes far enough, Option One will at least see less sheep suffer by extending the ban period for live sheep exports from three months in June to August, to four months including September.”    

“By extending the ban on live sheep exports to the 30th of September, less sheep will suffer this cruel and barbaric voyage in extreme heat.” 

Lack of Transparency

While we welcome this consultation period, we are deeply concerned that the Department of Agriculture have only allowed a very brief, one-week window for consultations. 

There have been no public announcements by the Department around these three options, and the submission portal isn’t clearly visible on their website. In fact, it was so well hidden even their own staff couldn’t find it when we called to confirm the time submissions closed. 

A public consultation period doesn’t offer much value if no one is aware that it is taking place.

This is a serious animal welfare issue and one we know the Australian public care about deeply. We had hoped the Department of Agriculture would give this issue the focus it deserves. 

This is a serious animal welfare issue and one we know the Australian public care about deeply. We had hoped the Department of Agriculture would give this issue the focus it deserves.