Congratulations! With your support, the Animal Justice Party’s tireless campaigning has helped end the cruelty of live sheep export.
Building on years of campaigning, the AJP’s leadership has worked closely with the Federal Labor Government in recent months to secure today’s announcement by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt that legislation will be introduced to phase out the trade by 1 May 2028.
The work of the Animal Justice Party, alongside various animal rights organisations, has mounted political pressure to the point where live export is no longer accepted by the majority of Australians.
We are proud that the AJP could deliver the knockout blow by demanding the end of live sheep export as a requirement for our preferences at the Dunkley By-election in March. Ongoing conversations behind-the-scenes between AJP and Labor leadership has helped to finetune government policy.
While we wish the phase-out will happen more quickly, our contributions to securing financial support and certainty around transition dates mean there is no turning back!
Everyone should be proud of their work leading to today’s remarkable win for the AJP. However, we know the job is not yet complete.
We are already in deep preference negotiations with major parties for the upcoming federal election, laser-focused on:
- Ensuring Labor enshrines the end of the trade in law before the election;
- Making the end of live cattle export the next AJP policy and political win; and
- The Coalition parties committing to end live export as a requirement for discussions.
Ending this needless cruelty has required the work of many groups and individuals over many years. However, every AJP member should today take a moment to be proud of our key players - and the instrumental role played by our Party in this massive leap forward for animal rights.
Today is truly for the animals.