MEDIA RELEASE – 21 May 2018

Greens call on Turnbull to back Ley’s live export Bill

Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon has congratulated Sussan Ley for introducing a Bill to the House of Representatives to transition out of live sheep exports and has called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to support the Bill.

“I congratulate Sussan Ley for taking a stand against animal cruelty and introducing this Bill to the House of Representatives to transition Australia out of the live sheep export trade.

The Australian Greens today confirmed the crossbench Senate bill to end live sheep exports will proceed on June 18 after the Independent Review of Conditions for the Export of Sheep’s failed to give recommendations that would guarantee that the mass deaths of sheep on live export ships will end.

“Minister David Littleproud effectively set this inquiry up to deliver recommendations that suit the interests of the live export industry,” Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

A pathway to transition away from the live sheep export trade could be in place before the end of the year if Senate crossbenchers can win support for their Private Members Bill.

Senators Lee Rhiannon and Derryn Hinch have given notice of the Animal Export Legislation Amendment (Ending Long-Haul Live Sheep Exports) Bill 2018. They hope it will be debated and voted on during the June Senate sitting.

The end to live sheep exports within two years is now within reach if Labor and the cross bench back the Greens bill to transition out of live animal exports within 2 years.

The Animal Export Legislation Amendment (Ending Long‑haul Live Sheep Exports) Bill 2018 will be introduced into parliament next week and sets out a two year transition plan to achieve a complete prohibition on the export of live sheep by long-haul sea voyages.

Media release – 3^rd May

Animal welfare organisations take the lead on addressing live exports – Turnbull government must act

Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon has congratulated Animals Australia and the RSCPA for offering to contribute $500,000 each to a structural adjustment package for sheep producers to assist with a transition out of the live sheep export trade.

Greens' plan to transition live sheep export industry to local processing backed by meat workers union

The Australian Greens will today launch their '5-Point Plan to End Cruelty and Expand Jobs' that would quickly transition the live sheep export trade to a boxed, chilled meat trade processed locally. The plan has the backing of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU).



The Australian Greens will today launch their '5-Point Plan to End Cruelty and Expand Jobs' that would quickly transition the live sheep export trade to a boxed, chilled meat trade processed locally.

The plan has the backing of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU).

The live animal export trade is a barbaric practice that must end despite Liberal National Government infighting over the issue, Australian Greens trade spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“This morning Agriculture Minister David Littleproud criticised Sussan Ley of being ‘emotional’ in  her response to live exports – I bet he wouldn’t have said that if she were a Liberal man,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

MEDIA RELEASE – 19 April 2018

Greens announce support for Sussan Ley’s Private Member’s Bill to end live sheep exports

The Greens have announced that they will provide cross-party support for MP Sussan Ley’s private member’s Bill to end live sheep exports to the Middle East.

“The Greens have been working to end live exports for years and we welcome members from the major parties joining us in standing up for animal welfare,” Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt said.

In the wake of the mass deaths of live export sheep the Greens are stepping up their call for the federal government to establish an Office of Animal Welfare independent from the Department of Agriculture.

“We must ensure animal abuse, similar to what has been exposed on the Awassi Express live export ship, never happens again. An Independent Office of Animal Welfare is needed as it could play a key role in ending the cruelty inherent in the live export trade,” Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.