The livestock export trade is important to all Australians. It is worth $1.8 billion a year and creates more than 13,000 jobs. These jobs are often located in remote communities where there is little other work, and the industry helps these communities by providing them with incomes to support their livelihoods.

Animal welfare is of utmost importance to farmers as well as the export industry. Farmers and exporters care for their animals. It is in exporters’ best interests to make sure animals arrive at overseas destinations in prime condition.

The industry is the most highly regulated in the world, and is recognised as having the world’s best standards for livestock export.

Australia is leading the way in investment in animal care programs in the Middle East and Asia.

The industry, through LiveCorp and Meat & Livestock Australia, invests significant amounts of time and money in co-operative programs with importing countries to improve practices and processes to benefit animal welfare.

Australian animal welfare specialists based in the Middle East provide practical training to veterinarians and stockmen on how to work with Australian animals. These representatives travel to each importing country in the Middle East to work with people on the ground.

Industry works in cooperation with importers, feedlot operators, transport companies, port authorities and processing plants to identify issues and resolve them.

Australia, through its research and development programs, is recognised as one of the world leaders in animal care issues.

Australia is the only country in the world actively investing in improving animal welfare in the countries we export to. If Australia is not involved in the trade the rate of progress and improvement in animal welfare will slow, or worse, stop.

If Australia was to stop exporting live animals, our customers in the Middle East and Asia would not purchase chilled meat products from Australia, but would instead purchase live animals from countries that do not invest in animal welfare programs and have standards below those of Australia.

Ceasing the trade would have a devastating effect for those employed in industry related roles including indigenous landowners, exporters, stockmen, road transport providers, dockside workers and other service providers such as veterinarians and fodder suppliers.

It would also have devastating effects upon Australia’s farming community – not only upon the thousands of families whose survival depends on the trade, but all cattle and sheep producers who rely on the livestock export trade to underpin the domestic trade.