Live sheep ban: Thousands of farmers to rally outside Parliament House against Labor’s agriculture agenda

Thousands of fed-up farmers will descend on Canberra on Tuesday to vent their fury at the Federal Government’s agriculture agenda, including the live sheep export ban. A convoy of more than 60 trucks, including some from WA, will roll up to Parliament House around 9am local time ahead of a rally expected to draw a crowd of more than 2000 people. The protest – organised by the WA-based Keep the Sheep campaign – is being billed as the first of its kind in 40 years as some of the nation’s largest agriculture bodies unite against the Federal Government. The farmers’ long list of grievances includes the planned shutdown of the live sheep export trade by 2028, water buybacks and the acquisition of land to build new transmission lines for renewable energy projects. Keep the Sheep spokesman Mark Harvey-Sutton said the Federal Government was treating farmers with “contempt”, leaving them no choice but to protest. “It’s a drastic measure for thousands of people to come to Canberra and rally, but they are doing it because they feel they have no choice,” he said. “The Government is simply ignoring agriculture.” Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Nationals leader David Littleproud are expected to speak at the rally, where they will recommit to repealing the live export ban if the Coalition wins the next Federal Election. The West understands Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not attend the rally but is scheduled to meet with the National Farmers’ Federation on Tuesday. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins will also meet with NFF and other industry representatives this week but won’t attend the rally. The West understands Ms Collins invited Keep the Sheep campaigners to meet in her office but the offer was turned down. Ms Collins again defended Labor’s decision to end the live sheep export trade. “The Government took this policy to the 2022 election, and we have gone about implementing it in a consultative manner to ensure certainty for the sector,” she said. “The Government is committed to the sheep industry in Australia, and we remain confident that there is a strong future for the sheep industry and those associated with the sector.” Ms Collins - who missed last week’s WA cabinet visit - plans to meet farmers when she travels to the State later this year.