Australia Pushes to Phase Out Live Sheep Exports to Improve Animal Welfare

Keira Wright, Bloomberg News

LOUTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: Sheep belonging to Garry Mooring gather during feeding on February 21, 2019 in Louth, Australia. Local farmer and landowner Garry Mooring has lived in the region for sixty years and has a deep understanding of the land. During this time he has observed the changing conditions along the Darling River and he along with other local farmers and community members feel angry and disappointed with the mismanagement of the Murray-Darling River basin. Mooring believes the river is the lifeblood of the community and there is a need for federal policy change not just state. Local communities in the Darling River area are facing drought and clean water shortages as debate grows over the alleged mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin. Recent mass kills of hundreds of thousands of fish in the Darling river have raised serious questions about the way WaterNSW is managing the lakes system, and calls for a royal commission. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images) , Photographer: Jenny Evans/Getty Images AsiaPac

(Bloomberg) -- Australia is pushing ahead with plans to phase out the export of live sheep to improve animal welfare.

The government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the trade, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a tweet, adding that the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament.

The push comes after the Labor government made a pre-election commitment to end live sheep exports. The trade is worth A$85m ($57.2 million) and solely based in Western Australia, said Minister Watt.

Live sheep exports fell to below 500,000 in 2022, down from a peak of 6.5 million 20 years ago, the minister said. Meanwhile, sheep meat exports have risen from A$1 billion to $4.5 billion in the past 20 years, he said.

The panel will report to Minister Watt by Sept. 30 and will also look at how to strengthen the local meat-processing sector, as well as how to pursue opportunities in markets like the UK and India.