Budget breakfast walkout – Agriculture sector protests sheep trade shut down: NFF
In an unprecedented move at today's Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast, the National Farmers' Federation and multiple peak agricultural bodies walked out during the Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt's address. Together they demonstrated to the Minister he had crossed a line by announcing a radical 4-year timeline to banning live sheep exports on Saturday.
Farmers wiped out by live sheep ban: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the federal Labor government’s decision to ban live sheep sea exports could have dire consequences for Victorian farmers and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the entire agricultural industry. VFF President Emma Germano said the move has sent shockwaves across the industry and has left many local farmers questioning the motive of our decision makers.
$107 million to support phase out of live sheep exports by sea: Watt
The export of live sheep by sea from Australia will end on 1 May 2028, with legislation enacting the phase out to be introduced in this term of Parliament ... While the live sheep export industry has been in decline for many years, down from $415m in 2002-03 to $77m in 2022-23, the demand for processed sheepmeat both here and overseas has been rapidly expanding. This presents an opportunity for more processing to occur onshore in WA ...
NFF condemns Government’s shock timeline for live sheep phase-out
The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) says farmers have been left shocked after Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced a radical 4-year timeline to phase out live sheep exports ... "I’d say to farmers – stand tall and don’t lose hope. We’re proud of the vital role we play in feeding and clothing people all around the world. We will not allow this Government's sucking up to activists rob us of that pride": Tony Mahar, NFF CEO.
Coalition will reinstate live sheep exports, as Labor’s shutdown timeframe revealed: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said a future Coalition Government will maintain the live sheep trade if it wins the next election, after Labor announced its live sheep export shutdown timeframe, with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt revealing a $107 million plan to ‘transition’ the industry by May 1, 2028 ... Warranine park farmer Ellen Walker from Brookton, WA, went to two meetings with the independent panel in Kondinin and York and said she was devastated by Minister Watt’s announcement today.
Farmers slam live sheep shutdown: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers has condemned the Federal Government’s catastrophic ban on live sheep exports by sea as it released a four-year plan to transition away from the live sheep trade ... According to an announcement made by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt ... Australia’s live sheep exports by sea trade will be phased out by 1 May 2028...
Watts not working for agriculture: John Hassell, President, WAFarmers
What activists want Watt delivers. Watt farmers fear. What's next on Watt's hit list. What to do with Watt. All questions Western Australian farmers are now asking after last week's decision to move ahead with the live export ban. On the hookup when the Minister announced his plan, Murray Watt is quick to call me out when I questioned his motives claiming I was being personal.
A clip above the rest: Unveiling Australia’s shearing heritage at Shear Outback
Hay, New South Wales, is a small town basks in the golden glow of the outback summer sun. It is a community whose history is deeply intertwined with the iconic figure of the Australian shearer. Here, amidst the vast sheep stations and dusty plains, lies Shear Outback...
Transport subsidies vs live export: Geoff Pearson
Geoff Pearson. Two weeks ago 300 farmers from across the South West convened an urgent drought meeting to address what is one of the driest seasons experienced in living memory across what is traditionally the wettest part of Western Australia. It’s at times like these that the State and Federal governments need to step up and support farmers to rectify where they have made things worse through past policy mistakes.
WA farmers looking to the sky and Canberra
... the water reserves in WA farmers' dams are now running dangerously low and farmers are being forced to quit stock at rates that are competitive with the price of a bullet ... What's the trade got to do with the weather? For our farmers, the link is so obvious they remain dumbfounded that the Government has not joined the dots.
What’s Watt got to say now?
Minister Watt, it's time to face up to the reality and accept the consequences of the government’s policy to ban live exports ... Your policies have contributed to driving away buyers and the boats that are essential for alleviating the pressure on the sheep market ... The fact that the live export report you commissioned remains concealed speaks volumes about the economic motivations behind the political decision. The report reportedly confirms what every farmer knows, that the local processing industry cannot replicate the competitive dynamics provided by exporters in the market.
Wool industry leads metrics for environmental reporting
With consumer demand for “nature-positive” wool outstripping supply, a new project is underway to provide consistency and certainty for woolgrowers around measuring and reporting on environmental performance ... the Natural Capital and Environmental Performance Measures for Australian Wool Growers project aims to support woolgrowers with on-farm decision making and reporting to their customers, using consistent, science-based, practical metrics.
Eagle slayer myth hard to kill off
Shaun Hollis. A trio of majestic wedge-tailed eagles rises out of the paddock stubble as our farm ute approaches ... Honiton farmer Matt Smith said he likes the huge birds living in the scrub beyond the bottom paddock because they help clean up the remains of any lambs which have become too weak to survive on their own. He said he has never seen an eagle kill a healthy lamb on his farm.
Dechra welcomes Numnuts ® into the Gold Standard for pain relief
In a significant stride towards elevating pain relief standards for farm animals, Dechra Pharmaceuticals proudly welcomes Numnuts ® into its product offering. Numnuts ®, a revolutionary solution for ring marking in lambs, will be distributed alongside Dechra’s flagship wound care, anaesthetic, and antiseptic product, Tri-Solfen ®.
Foreign land buyers quietly backing the Live Exports Gone movement
Notice how there is a deathly silence by the big foreign pension and sovereign investment funds on the merits of the Government's planned end to the live export trade. These are the foreign entities that have been quietly buying up millions of acres of Australian farmland.
Shearing legends to be honored at 11th Festival of the Blades
Five notable shearing legends will be honoured at Shear Outback’s 11th Festival of the Blades over the October long weekend, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th ... “These legends are famous in the world of shearing, and should be acknowledged for their outstanding contributions and achievements to the shearing industry,” Shear Outback board chair, Sam Barnes said. They are Deniliquin’s Brian Sullivan, Alan Williams (Moama), Peter Black (Dongara, WA) and Damien Boyle (Broomehill West, WA).
Wild dog program could close
"The order was renewed last year for only 12 months, during which time farmers and other stakeholders were promised consultation and a count of the wild dog population across Victoria," said Libbe Paton, North East Wild Dog Action Group. "Neither of these promises have been upheld to date."
Slaughter to the lambs – dingo protection: Bev McArthur
"This retrograde choice will take us back to the bad old days, of savage attacks, extensive stock losses, and financial and mental anguish for the farmers who just want to protect and care for their sheep. While entitled animal justice warriors claim the ideological high ground wearing their ‘save the dingoes’ badge, they fail to acknowledge the animal welfare of sheep, especially lambs, family pets and small wildlife": Bev McArthur, Member for Western Victoria.
Baa’ing fast
On a perfect racing day, the annual Wakool Sheep Races were held at the Wakool Recreation Reserve on Saturday evening. The ewe ‘jockeys’ stayed safe behind the seven-lane barrier draw while their sheep were motivated to run faster to the finish line by the ringing of hand-held bells.
Ermenegildo Zegna Group celebrates its 60th wool awards edition
The Ermenegildo Zegna Group began sourcing Australian wool back in the early years of 1900. The inherent excellence and unique characteristics of this incredible natural fibre have allowed the Group to continue to perfect the beauty, the quality, and the performance of its products. In particular, Australian superfine wool has been, and continues to be, key to creating many of the Group’s most precious fabrics and exclusive garments.
Letter from a sheep farmer to Senator Ghosh
Hugo Bombora. Dear Senator Varun Ghosh, Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Australian Senate. Nice to bump into you at a wedding last Saturday night. Thanks for the insightful questions. As acknowledged, it’s hard to put together one’s thoughts with Taylor Swift playing in the background. But as promised, here they are via email.
Can this senator save live exports?
Meet newly appointed senator, the former barrister Varun Ghosh who recently took his place in the Senate after he was officially confirmed as Labor’s choice to replace the retiring Patrick Dodson.
... The bit in Ghosh's CV that talks about constitutional law is what every sheep farmer in WA should be interested in, as it hints that our new senator might actually understand the concept of States' rights and that any move to ban a trade that is almost exclusively out of one State may well impinge upon section 52 of the Constitution.
