Boyup Brook farmer blasts “gutless” live export ban as State Agriculture Minister lashes Federal counterpart

A South West farmer has described the Federal Government’s decision to ban live sheep exports from 2028 as “blatantly shocking and insensitive” as the State Government sharpens its attack over the move. Boyup Brook sheep farmer Charles Caldwell expressed his anger at the decision, announced by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt on Saturday, describing the financial toll the transition will take on primary producers. “Effectively, farmers are going to lose a large amount of money transitioning to another industry, because the Labor Party doesn’t like sheep farmers,” he said. “It’s blatantly shocking and insensitive, and the timing of it as well with sheep prices being the worst they have been, it’s staggering to see them do that to farmers. “The farmers are going to wear the bill and none of the compensation package will be compensating farmers for the next 10 or 20 years.” The Federal Government has announced a $107 million transition support package over the next five years. The package includes $64.6m in support for sheep producers and the associated supply chain such as processors, truck drivers and shearers, with the bulk of the money set to be made available early on to encourage early uptake. But Mr Caldwell said the money being spent was equivalent to “about one per cent of the impact”, describing it as “an insult”. “It’s a pathetic number,” he said. “It should be $2 billion or $3b and they might get close to the amount to compensate the industry.” State Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis revealed in Parliament on Tuesday night the blistering letter she sent to Mr Watt in response to the Federal Government’s decision. She highlighted an ongoing drought in WA and the State’s recent efforts to support farmers. “I believe your announcement has added to the negative sentiment of the WA sheep industry at the worst possible time,” Ms Jarvis wrote. “Given your decision and subsequent package is not in the interest of WA, it is difficult to see how we can work collaboratively.” The letter lashed Mr Watt over the transition package, which Ms Jarvis deemed would not “meet the current and future needs” of the sheep industry. “It would appear around 40 per cent of this support package will go towards funding ‘business as usual’ activities such as Austrade and resource staffing to implement the phaseout,” she wrote. Ms Jarvis called on her Federal counterparts to subsidise freight of sheep to the east coast, to help open up that market for WA farmers who are losing the live export trade. Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said on Saturday the phaseout delivered on an election commitment after “years of community concern”. “I want the Western Australian sheep industry to thrive and grow into the future,” he said. “Seizing what is an untapped opportunity — more onshore meat processing. “Today, we are mapping out a plan for the future of the sheep industry in Western Australia that delivers more value added on-shore, which means more jobs locally.” Mr Watt said the end date — announced seven months after the minister received an independent panel report that consulted on the phase-out — provided farmers with certainty.