Labor against sheep exports despite review

Labor is sticking to its pledge to phase out live sheep exports within five years despite the government announcing changes to how the industry is regulated.

A protest against live exports.

A protest against live exports. Source: AAP

Sweeping changes to how live animal exports are regulated won't convince Labor to abandon its push to phase out the sheep trade.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has accepted all 31 of independent reviewer Philip Moss's recommendations, including establishing an inspector-general to oversee the trade.

Labor leader Bill Shorten says his party is sticking to its pledge to phase out live sheep exports within five years.

"We think after scandal after scandal the industry hasn't got its act together," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

He said the community was disgusted with animal welfare being put on the backburner under the coalition.

Mr Littleproud is urging the opposition to dump an amendment phasing out live sheep exports from a government bill to put harsh new penalties on dodgy exporters.

"The opposition played politics and attached an amendment to the penalties bill to simply try and shut down live sheep," the minister said.

The National Farmers' Federation believes the Moss review has put the trade back on course to being a sustainable industry which has animal welfare as its highest priority.

"The NFF and its members remain committed to the future of a live export trade which meets the animal welfare expectations of farmers and the community," NFF president Fiona Simson said.

Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chair Simon Crean said the inspector-general was one of a suite of initiatives his organisation endorsed to target major cultural change in the industry.

"ALEC's number one priority is best practice in animal welfare - poor welfare outcomes are never acceptable," Mr Crean said.

Independents Andrew Wilkie and Derryn Hinch have joined animal welfare groups in arguing the review confirms live sheep exports must end.

"There is simply no amount of regulation that can make live export not cruel," Mr Wilkie said.

The inspector-general was first mooted by Labor before losing government in 2013, but scrapped by former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce.


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Source: AAP


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