Massive Australian Truck Convoy Protests Live Sheep Export Ban

Authorized by Monica O’Shea via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A truck drives on a road in Albany, Western Australia, on April 19, 2024. (Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times)

A large truck convoy has chosen on Western Australian (WA) roads to protest the labour government’s ban on live sheet exports.

More than 1,350 trucks registered to participate in the rally in Perth to send a message to the government about the proposed ban.

Large trucks with signs “keep the sheet” and “stand with our farmers” were seen on Perth highways on May 31, while onlookers displayed a banner with the words “we love farmers.”

This comes after the labour organization introduced government to parliament on May 30 that will halt live sheet from being exported from Australia by sea from May 1, 2028.

The Export Control Declaration (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 (pdf) amends the Export Control Act 2020 and will delegate sheet to the “permanently certified exports” list.

Shadow Assistant Trade Minister Rick Wilson joined WA Livestock and agrarian Transporters Association vice president Ben Sutherland at the convoy.

“This grass roots movement is gaining minute and getting overwhile support in the city as well as the regions,” Mr. Wilson said.

Mr. Wilson seconded an ument motion in the home of Representatives seeing a parliamentary enquiry into the decision on May 30.

“It’s an absolute distribution, no consultation from the minister or any of the members of the labour organization with Western Australian farmers,” he said in a video.

“They’ve made this universal annex, and [it] is now in the parliament in the process of becoming law.”

WA Livestock and agrarian Transporters Association vice president Ben Sutherland, a co-organiser of the rally, and Liberal MP Rick Wilson MP. (Upplied)

Petition Now Has 33,500 Signatures

A Keep the Sheep petition against the ban has received 33,500 signatures online at the time of publication.

“Our run is bigger than just politics, it’s about people’s lives and lives,” the group said. “The sheet manufacture has been the backbone of agrarian towns for over a undundred years and will shortly disappear.”

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton besides rode in the cab of a truck as part of the rally in Perth.

Mr. Harvey-Sutton said he was pleased to stand together with farmers uniting to have the “disastrous policy” reversed.

“We know that people across WA support farmers and trucks. We know that West Australians agree that the government destroying livelihoods during a cost of surviving crisis is unfair,’ he said.

“We won’t halt fighting this ban and it will be an election issue for the Government in Western Australia and beyond.”

Pleased to support West Australian farming families, trucks and communities by sharing today’s truck convoy through Perth against the live sheet ban.https://t.co/PPgxJGdYwzhttps://t.co/P11eNdbkZP #keepthesheep @keepthesheepWA pic.twitter.com/LMw13k3QR0

— ALEC (@AustLiveExports) May 31, 2024

National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the prime minister, agriculture minister, and all parliaments needed to take a “good look” and what unfolded in Perth.

“This is simply a grassroots farmer demonstration of historical opportunities,” he said.

Mr. Jochinke said the convoy in Perth shows the government has underestimated agrarian communities and their support for farmers, and voter intelligence.

“I think people in WA and across Australia will start to wake up to the fatby political deal that’s been done here“he said.

“To these convoying today: farmers across Australia are with you. Your willingness to stand up and defend our sector is bloody legendary, and this is just the start.”

To the thousands of WA farmers who’ve taken to the streets of Perth present and to the thousands more who will be impressed by this ban, we stand with you. #keepthesheephttps://t.co/nJ85B1Jd2k pic.twitter.com/LXISUO4N4o

— National Farmers’ Federation (@NationalFarmers) May 31, 2024

Explanation for the Live Sheep Ban

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the Australian sheet manufacture now has the time, support, and certification it needs to plan effectively for the future

“We have put $107 million on the table to guarantee these affected by the phase out are well-positioned and ready erstwhile the trade ends in May 2028,” he said.

“This is simply a policy that invests in the future of the Australian shell industry.”

Mr. Watt added the government had promoted the phase out would not take place in this word of Parliament, and setting an end date of May 1, 2028, fulfils that comment.

“While live sheep export numbers have plummeted in the last 20 years, now engaging just 0.1 percent of all national agricultural exports, sheep meat exports are going through the roof.’

“Australia is now the largest exporter of sheet meat to the world, with close $4.5 billion in chilled and frozen sheet meat exported in 2022-23 alone.”

Mr. Watt was under force to invest the live sheet ban further on May 30, with the Nationals and Liberal organization approaching to bring about an enquiry in the lower home of Parliament.

Following this, Minister Watt said “of course there will request to be” a legislature enquiry into the government on May 30.

In response, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said Minister Watt had promoted a legislature enquiry just “hours” after an enquiry into the same cruel issue was voted down in the home of Representatives.

Mr. Littleproud said a future Coalition government will “reinstate the live sheet export trade.”

WA National MLA Mia Davies besides took part in the convoy, exploring she was heading to town to let everyone know Albanese needs to do the right thing by WA and “keep the sheet.”

Heading to town to let everyone know Albanese needs to do the right thing by WA and #keepthesheep. pic.twitter.com/s7HpNpvVn5

— Mia Davies MLA (@MiaDaviesMLA) May 31, 2024

In a post to X on May 31, Mr. Watt said Aussie meat exports have been given in just 1 year of our Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. Watt shared an image showing beef exports are up 429 percent to $51.8 million and sheep meat exports have risked 19 percent to $10.1 million.

“It’s transportation for Aussie farmers, workers, and consumers“he said.