THE Nationals leader, David Littleproud has criticised the Australian Government for keeping farmers in the dark regarding the phasing out of live sheep exports. 

The Government commissioned an Independent Panel Report into the consequences of the change, promising to provide more certainty before the end of 2023.

Mr Littleproud pointed out that Federal agriculture minister, Senator Murray Watt received the Panel’s report 16 weeks ago but has remained silent as to the findings.

Mr Watt said he couldn’t provide a date for release as “that is a decision for the Government to make”.

“I am not going to go into what the recommendations of the panel are but the government remains committed to delivering its election commitment,” he said.

He added he had not yet seen any brief about how the phase-out of live sheep exports might be achieved.

Mr Littleproud was scathing of the response.

“Minister Watt is turning his back on farmers while failing to give them answers,” he said.

“Farmers are desperate to understand the impact on phasing out the industry and what will happen to them.”

While the delays may be causing angst amongst farmers, the position in the south-west was not necessarily as worrying as in other parts of Australia.

Shipments out of Portland were mainly of cattle, with an average of 125,000 head per annum over the last six years (2018-2023).

Over the same period there was a total of just 6371 sheep, in two consignments, in 2018 and 2019.

Furthermore, 88 per cent of the cattle shipments were of stock for breeding purposes as opposed to being for slaughter or fattening.

Nationally, sheep exports (mostly for slaughter) comprise 47 per cent of all livestock exports.