A recent story in The Australian newspaper stated that the live export industry employs 100,000 people and an end to the trade would result in huge job losses. We delved into this figure as the regularly quoted numbers vary considerably and indicate to us that 100,000 is a gross exaggeration! A report into the live export industry by Hassall and Associates in 2006 indicates that the live export industry employs 13,000 people. The Department of Agriculture claims that in 2009 … Continued
The World Society for the Protection of Animals commends the Western Australian Labor Party on its move to improve animal welfare, following the launch of a discussion paper by leader Mark McGowan. In the paper, Strengthening Animal Welfare in Western Australia (link opens a PDF), a key recommendation is to work with overseas trade offices to promote chilled meat products and create a commercial alternative to live exports. This is a positive development in placing animal welfare on the political … Continued
Reports in several media, including The Australian, over the last few days have confirmed that the live export industry is having a negative impact on the Australian sheep meat industry. Two of Australia’s biggest sheep meat exporters – one in New South Wales and one in South Australia – have been forced to cut production, citing pressure from the increased demand for live exports as one of the main reasons. Surging demand for Australian lamb has driven up its price … Continued
Time for Rudd Government to act says Meatworkers’ UnionText adapted from media release: Australasian Meat Industry Employees UnionSpeaking on the ACIL Tasman report released last week (Friday, October 9), the Federal President of the Meatworkers’ Union, Grant Courtney said: “We have seen a clear trend in statistics. Whenever live exports have been reduced or eliminated, for example the United Arab Emirates, there has been a corresponding jump in imports of domestically processed frozen sheep meat. “The Rudd Government and particularly … Continued
Yesterday’s live exports report – for the first time in the long history of the live export debate – clearly demonstrates there are a number of practical steps that can be taken to encourage buyers in importing countries to switch to Australian chilled meat and increase the level of substitution between live sheep exports and the sheep meat trade. These steps include the correction of trade distortions caused by the subsidies applied to live sheep – by reducing them or … Continued
Research launched today, commissioned by WSPA, examines the economics behind the live export industry and the feasibility of a phase out of this cruel trade. With this new information we aim to dispel any myths that exist around the impact of ending live exports on the finances of Australia and on the livelihoods of Australians currently working in the sector. By addressing these issues with independent economic analysis, we can better persuade the Government to reconsider its view of the … Continued
A new economic report* on the value of live sheep exports has revealed that phasing out the trade would have a modest impact on farmers. ACIL Tasman found that live sheep exports represent a small and declining percentage of the average farm’s income, with many farmers already focusing on more profitable commodities. The Report’s author, Mark Barber, said with the industry in the midst of major structural reform, any changes sheep producers need to make to adjust to a market … Continued
