NFF submission to the phase out of live sheep exports by sea: consultation paper The importance of the trade, animal welfare improvements and evidence-

The NFF opposes the phase-out policy as a matter of principle, and it is incumbent upon the review panel to make the significant issues and risks associated with the policy clear to the Minister and the Government more broadly. [...] Page | 6 NFF submission to the Phase out of live sheep export by sea: consultation paper The importance of the trade, animal welfare improvements and evidence-based community sentiment Importance of the live sheep trade The live sheep export trade makes a critical direct economic contribution to the Western Australian (WA) economy. [...] The NFF is the Secretariat of the Cairns Group Farm Leaders, a group that seeks to ‘progress agricultural trade liberalisation within the World Trade Organisation (WTO).’ The NFF advances the cause of open trade through the World Farmers Organisation, delivers the DFAT-funded International Engagement Strategy project, operates a dedicated Trade Committee and regularly convenes inbound and outbound. [...] Further, given the intrinsic role trade plays in the success of the sector, the pursuit of the phase-out policy unfortunately calls into question the Government’s commitment to the sector’s $100 billion 2030 aspiration. [...] While assurances may be given by the Minister of the day regarding the cattle trade, the most enduring commitment that could be made to the live cattle trade, and cattle industry more broadly, would be not to proceed with the sheep export phase-out.