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Live Sheep Exports
Greens (WA) Detailed Policy 1996The current live sheep export to the Middle East is inhumane and economically questionable. If animals are to be used for meat, then from both the issue of animal welfare and maximising financial returns to regional economies, animals should be killed as close as possible to the place of production.
Smaller abbatoirs should be located in regional centres. It is estimated that, as a direct result of the sheep export trade, over 2,000 meatworking jobs have been lost and a further 12,000 jobs lost as an indirect result.
Over 5 million live sheep are exported from Western Australia each year. The mortality rate of sheep during the two to three weeks at sea represents a seven-fold increase in farm mortality rates and accounts for over 100,000 sheep per year. Furthermore, it is estimated that an additional 3% or 150,000 sheep die while awaiting slaughter in the Middle East.
The dust, noise, truck, traffic and smell from the ships are an extreme nuisance to local communities.
The Greens (WA) will take action to implement the following measures:
Ban the export of live sheep for slaughter.
Replace the live sheep trade with export of chilled or frozen carcases of animals killed under Australian regulations (which include stunning prior to slaughter) and in accordance with the customs of the customers.
Promote establishment of country abbatoirs to reduce transport of animals and produce more jobs in country areas.
Develop transitions strategies to ensure that farmers are not disadvantaged by the closure of the live sheep trade.
Investigate new markets for processed lamb, for example, organic, cruelty free processed meats.
Strengthen guidelines on live sheep transport and abbatoir handling in the Animal Welfare Act.
