Ending live sheep exports would create jobs
A new report released today by economists ACIL Tasman, has revealed that ending live sheep exports would benefit the economy and create Australian jobs.
The RSPCA welcomed the report, commissioned by World Society for Protection of Animals, saying a new conversation about ending the live sheep trade is in the long-term interests of farmers.
"For decades, the live sheep trade has taken away opportunities from Australia's meat processors. Trade distortions have created unfair competition between live sheep exports and sheep meat exports, to the detriment of Australian jobs.
"The WA meat processing industry has signaled they could easily slaughter an extra 3 million sheep a year straight away, instantly creating 2,000 jobs in that state. Surely, a government focused on job creation and nation building should be listening.
"It's time for the Australian Government to take this issue out of the ‘too-hard basket' and acknowledge that continued support for the live sheep trade is not only costing jobs but hurting the economy.
"Echoing lines from live exporters that the sky will fall in without the trade is simply not good enough - independent economists have quashed that sentiment.
"It's time for a more balanced and accurate discussion about the future of the trade as well as opportunities to increase our sheep meat exports, which are already four times more valuable to the economy than live sheep exports."
This second report by ACIL Tasman complements the report the economists did for the RSPCA looking at the value of live sheep exports to Western Australia.
"ACIL Tasman's first report confirmed that phasing out live sheep exports can be done with minimal impact on farmers and the economy. Today's new information not only details how to do it, but reveals ending live sheep exports would actually bring economic benefits."
The RSPCA implores the Australian Government and farming groups to join with the RSPCA and processors to put in place a plan to take advantage of new opportunities for the sheep industry
View the Report here