2024-07-01
The Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024, has passed the Senate, delivering a huge win for the Greens as well as animal welfare advocates, organisations and whistleblowers who have tirelessly campaigned to shut down this cruel trade for years.
The Greens moved amendments to the Bill in the Senate to:
-
Bring forward the end date to 1 May 2026
-
Reduce the number of sheep exported each year until the ban is in effect
-
Require independent observers and vets to be on all live sheep export ships until the ban is in effect
-
Impose a ban on ships travelling to the Northern Hemisphere between 1 May and 31 October each year in line with the Northern Hemisphere summer, until the full ban is in effect
The Government voted against these amendments.
Quotes attributable to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare:
“Shutting down the cruel live sheep export trade is a historic win for every single person who cares about animal welfare in this country.
“Years of pressure and activism has finally forced Labor to see the writing on the wall and set the date to end this brutal trade. Animals should never be fodder for the profits of a cruel industry.
“A huge congratulations to the community, animal welfare organisations and activists who have fought tooth and nail for this barbaric trade to end once and for all.
“I'm proud that the Greens have always been on the right side of history when it comes to animal welfare. We will finally stop these ships of misery from ever sailing again.
“While Labor opposed my amendments to bring forward the live sheep export end date to 1 May 2026 and to improve animal welfare to reduce the suffering of sheep, we will be vigilantly monitoring this trade until it ends once and for all.”