Documents Relating To The Live Sheep Export Transition Package.

Written by Claude Haiku 4.5 from the extracted text on 28 Feb 2026. It can miss or misread redacted and scanned pages. Check the source before relying on it.

Minister Watt's May 2024 correspondence to Sheep Producers Australia outlines the government's decision to phase out live sheep exports by sea, with a firm end date of 1 May 2028. Legislation will be introduced during the current parliamentary term to enforce this deadline. The policy will proceed without additional restrictions like caps or quotas, allowing continued trading until the phase-out date. The government announced $107 million in funding over five years to support affected sheep farmers, businesses, and supply chain participants in adjusting to the transition. The decision derives from recommendations by an independent panel following extensive consultation involving 90+ meetings, 2,000+ stakeholders, and 4,100+ submissions and survey responses. While acknowledging industry opposition to the policy, the minister emphasized the announcement provides certainty for future planning and encourages early adaptation to capitalize on emerging opportunities.