In a submission to the consultation process, made public on June 20, the NFF has named broader trade impacts among several reasons the phase-out plan must be scrapped.
“We’re an exporting nation, and one of the strongest global voices for free and open agricultural trade,” NFF president Fiona Simson said.
“If we start arbitrarily shutting down export markets it sends an awful message to our customers overseas.
“We export over 70 per cent of what we produce, and we’re Australia’s second largest export industry, so the broader ramifications of this need to be weighed up.”
The NFF’s submission also outlines steps taken in recent years to meet community expectations.
“The live export industry has gone above and beyond to meet community expectations,” Ms Simson said.
“We have the world’s best assurance framework to care for animals right through to processing in-market.
“Australia stepping back from its global leadership in this space would be a backward step for animal welfare.”
The submission also points to the economic damage the ban would create — felt most acutely in Western Australia.
With formal submissions now closed, the NFF is calling on the Federal Government to urgently rethink its policy.
“It’s a reckless economic own-goal at a time when we’re teetering on the brink of a recession,” Ms Simson said.
“And we’re not talking about something off in the distance. The uncertainty this policy is creating is having real impacts right now.”
