Farmers are fighting back on the ban of live sheep exports

CASON HO, REPORTER: This is one of the final frontiers for farmers trying to keep the live sheep export industry. Late last week farmers lined about three kilometres of road here in Muresk, in regional Western Australia where a parliamentary inquiry was examining the Federal Government's decision to ban live sheep exports by sea by 2028. CASON HO: Live exports make up just 2 per cent of Australia’s total sheep meat export market, according to the federal government. CASON HO: The inquiry was only had a week to host two public hearings - one in Canberra and this one in WA - the only state where live sheep export ships still operate. LYNN SIMPSON: We’ve got the best written legislation, but do we want to stand up and tell the world “We’ve got wonderful welfare because we’ve got the greatest legislation of a terrible cruel trade?” MURRAY WATT: There’s no doubt that farmers in Western Australia are doing it tough at the moment, but restructuring the industry and expanding onshore processing, we think that provides a very positive future for Western Australian farmers.