In short:
- Live sheep exports by sea will be phased out over the next four years, after laws banning the trade passed parliament on Monday.
- Earlier in the day, opponents met with the prime minister to request a Senate inquiry into the legislation.
What’s next?
- WA Premier Roger Cook says he will continue to negotiate for additional support for farmers affected by the laws.
Sky News and other similar conservative whinge rags are already posting the anti-Labor and anti-Greens headline as a response.
Personally I think its great news. Keep the value add in Australia (processing), and remove the cruelty of long ship travel followed by questionable processing practices in other countries.
And it’s not like they’re being pushed out the building. There are transition packages, support payments. They’re getting a LOT in the process.
Even if the coalition decides to reopen the trade, any sensible business will stay clear because the next labor government will shut it again.
Its a pretty long standing policy now, hard to have assurance of continuity of business for sure.