In 1985, the Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare in its report ‘The Export of Live Sheep from Australia’ concluded that if a decision on the future of the trade were made on animal welfare grounds alone, there was enough evidence to stop the trade.

And yet animals such as greyhounds, sheep, cows, goats, horses, crayfish, camels and buffalo are exported live from Australia in long arduous journeys, during which they suffer from conditions like heat stress, dehydration, starvation and infections from standing in their own waste. Mother sheep suffer abortions and stillbirths due to stress, and live babies are crushed to death in the cramped shipping conditions. Exported animals also have to endure appalling conditions in destination countries where animal welfare standards fall way below ours.

The live export industry has been in steep decline for a number of years and some other countries (like New Zealand and the UK) have already banned it.

In 2022, the Federal Labor Government promised to ban the live sheep trade, however, if a Liberal Government is elected, this ban is likely to be overturned, despite 75% of Australians opposing live export (RSPCA).

Key Features

• The AJP will continue to support the ban on live export of sheep, to ensure that the ban is not overturned.
• Pressure the Department of Trade to ban the live export of all animals, including greyhounds, cattle, horses, goats, camels, crayfish, buffalo and others.

What impact will this have:

• End the suffering and death of exported animals.
• Bring Australia into alignment with other countries that have already implemented the ban.