More jobs lost to live sheep exports
The Mayor of Dubbo has urged a rethink of Australia's involvement in the live sheep export trade after 300 jobs were cut from the local meatworks. The RSPCA has echoed the calls, saying every sheep sent overseas for slaughter takes Australian jobs with it.
Read the full story from the Daily Liberal: Mayor urges industry to protect Aussie jobs
Mayor Allan Smith is right - it doesn't make sense to force local processors to compete with the trade in live sheep. While ever we send live sheep overseas to be slaughtered, Australia will continue to miss out on significant value-adding opportunities.
There is good news for Australian farmers and meat processors. Two economic reports completed this year revealed that ending live sheep exports is not only feasible but it would benefit the economy and create Australian jobs.
These reports found live sheep exports are a small and declining percentage of the average farm's income and the trade could be phased out over five years. In fact, ending the trade is actually in the long-term interests of farmers and the economy. It's certainly in the interests of the 4 million sheep sacrificed to this cruel trade every year.
Why are we allowing a trade that is becoming increasingly irrelevant to hurt local jobs? Surely a government interested in nation building and job creation would be more future thinking.
The RSPCA urges 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.
- Get on Board - sign up to the RSPCA's campaign to end live sheep exports
- Read the ACIL Tasman economic reports
- Find out more about the issues