Stakeholders meet with Federal Government panel to negotiate the phase-out of live sheep export by sea

Six additional public forums, including one in Geraldton, have been announced for live sheep trade stakeholders to meet with the Federal Government-appointed independent panel for the phase-out of live sheep exports by sea. The Department of Agriculture has published the new forum dates on its website, with the independent panel returning to Perth and regional WA from Monday, June 19 to Friday, June 23. A public forum will occur at Geraldton’s Multi-Purpose Centre on Monday, June 19, from 10am-11.45am before moving to Merredin, Kondinin, Lake Grace and Darkan. During the second visit, the panel visited Moora, York, Narrogin, Wagin, Katanning, Cranbrook, Albany, and Esperance, with Moora gathering more than 80 farmers for the two-hour consultation session. The lack of notice of visits has angered farmers, including Corrigin sheep producer Steven Bolt, president of industry body the Livestock Collective. Mr Bolt expressed his frustration on Twitter, questioning claims by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt that the Government wanted to conduct the phase-out “in an inclusive way”. “How then is this acceptable that WA sheep industry and rural communities get 48 hrs notice for public meetings with limited seats to meet with (the) #LiveExport phase out panel?” Mr Bolt wrote. More than 1000 people were estimated to have attended the regional forums, panel chair Phillip Glyde said. The panel is expected to provide advice on how and when the Government will phase out live sheep exports by sea via a report to Senator Watt by September 30.