The federal government has announced Australia will stop exporting live sheep from May 1, 2028 while unveiling a $107 million package to help the industry transition.
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00:00 The long-awaited end date finally revealed.
00:05 Today, we are mapping out a plan for the future of the sheep industry in Western Australia
00:11 that delivers more value-adding onshore, which means more jobs locally.
00:16 The Government will provide $107 million to support the phase-out over the next five years.
00:23 This transition will go better and set the industry up better for the future if the transition begins soon.
00:30 So some of the funding that we're providing is to encourage early movement.
00:34 Almost $65 million will help local sheep producers and the supply chain.
00:39 This compensation package will not even touch the size, it won't even reach farmers,
00:43 it won't even reach producers and the people that are in the industry.
00:45 It will be tied up with consultants.
00:47 Last year, Australia sent almost 600,000 live sheep abroad by sea, but the number has been dropping over the past two decades.
00:56 The Nationals say they'll work to see the ban reversed.
01:00 Nobody in a regional economy can feel that they have Canberra on their side when decisions are being made like this.
01:08 The issue came under the spotlight earlier this year when thousands of livestock were stuck on board the MV Bahija for five weeks.
01:16 Sparking concern from animal welfare advocates.
01:20 I think it shows that community attitudes to animal welfare have changed over time.
01:25 And I think we see that in a lot of industries.
01:28 Legislation to begin the transition will be introduced in this term of Parliament.
01:33 element.
01:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]