Countdown Until the 2025 Federal Election
Care. Connect. Change.
Stop Live Exports represents the majority of Australians who think live animal export is cruel and needs to end.
We want to see the live animal export trade replaced with a progressive and ethical alternative that looks after producers and their farm animals too.
Stop Live Exports’ current priority is partnering with other animal welfare organisations on the Keep The Sheep Here campaign. During the 2025 election campaign, we are strongly advocating for the Federal Government’s legislation to end the live export of sheep, by sea, which the Federal Opposition has vowed to repeal, if they are elected. Read about the Keep the Sheep Here campaign now.
Care. Connect. Change.
Stop Live Exports represents the majority of Australians who think live animal export is cruel and needs to end.
We want to see the live animal export trade replaced with a progressive and ethical alternative that looks after producers and their farm animals too.
Live Export Facts
About Live Exports
For days or weeks at a time, sheep on live export ships are routinely exposed to overcrowded and filthy conditions,
extreme heat and poor ventilation, high levels of ammonia from urea, and incessant noise, light and movement. Once
they arrive at importing countries, sheep are often subject to mishandling and brutal slaughter without stunning.
Live sheep exports account for only 0.1% of Australia’s agricultural exports
7 in 10 Western Australians (71%) supports the phase-out of live sheep exports by sea
Nearly 44,000 Australians signed a parliamentary petition in 2023 calling for live sheep export by sea to be phased out
Live sheep exports by sea from Australia have declined by over 90% over the past 20 years to around 433,078 (2024)
Australian sheepmeat exports are about 70 times the value of the live sheep export trade
Together, we can and we will, end this cruel trade
Australians care deeply about the welfare of our animals, and as long as live animal exports continue, we can’t escape the harsh reality of unfathomable cruelty.
There’s a misconception that ending live animal export would cause significant harm to our producers, who are already facing tough conditions. But this simply isn’t true.
In fact, more than 70% of Australians living in rural areas support ending live animal exports. They are more concerned about the inadequacy of current standards than people in any other area.
Australians from all walks of life agree that phasing out live sheep exports by sea is the right decision. Support for the legislated policy is overwhelming, including in rural and regional communities of WA. This reflects a commitment to end animal cruelty and a recognition of the need for a sustainable future for our export industries.
Ending live animal export isn’t about disadvantaging producers or denying people the choice to eat meat—this is just a narrative pushed by a small group of exporters.
What it really means is ensuring that animals do not suffer unnecessarily.
Other countries are putting a stop to live animal export, and we can too.
Who supports the phase-out of live sheep exports by sea?
%
Western Australians*
%
Australians*
%
Submitters to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture
FAQs
Recent News &
Updates
Become a Member
Why we want to end live animal exports
Live animal export is cruel.
Animals that are exported live endure stressful transport by sea and air, in cramped, unclean conditions for days or weeks at a time, often in extreme temperatures and exposed to high levels of ammonia from urea, which makes it difficult for them to breathe.
They then find themselves in countries with no animal welfare laws or protection, where they often endure slaughter without stunning.
Live animal exporters have a decades-long history of animal cruelty. Think back to the vision of Tommy the steer being slaughtered in front of his friends in 2011 in Four Corners’ ‘A Bloody Business’.
Or to the footage of sheep literally cooking alive and drowning in their own faeces en route to the Middle East in August 2017, or of terrified Australian steers in Indonesia during Eid al-Adha in August 2019, being roped and held down, having their throats cut in a sawing motion without stunning.
The live animal export trade is an industry in decline, with annual exports dropping by an average of 16% per year between 2017 and 2021.
We want the live animal export trade replaced by a reliable chilled meat trade that looks after producers and their animals too.
Act Now: Tell Dutton & Littleproud - No Live Export, No Vote
Did you know that Liberal leader Peter Dutton and Nationals leader David Littleproud have vowed to overturn Labor’s ban on the cruel live export of sheep, by sea, if they win the next federal election?
With 78% of Australians supporting an end to this cruel trade, the message is clear – we won’t stand for political games with animal welfare. Let them know that your vote depends on maintaining the phase-out commitment.
Contact David Littleproud
Tell David Littleproud: Any attempt to overturn the live sheep export phase-out will cost them your vote!
Contact Peter Dutton
Tell Peter Dutton: Any attempt to overturn the live sheep export phase-out will cost them your vote!
Supporter Profiles
Carole-Anne Priest
Businesswoman and Animal Advocate
Meet Carole-Anne Priest, a successful businesswoman and passionate animal advocate who has transformed her semi-rural property into a sanctuary for rescued farm animals. Her journey from city life to living with livestock has deepened her understanding of the unique personalities and social bonds of animals, fueling her commitment to ending live export.
Rachele Clarke
Til' The Cows Come Home
Meet Rachele Clarke. Her parents were fifth-generation cattle farmers in rural Queensland and Rachele grew up surrounded by animals destined for Australia’s food system.
Paradise Pastures
Meet Craig Baco. The live export industry would label him an activist. We call him a hero. A hero for the animals, caught up in the cruel and allous live export trade. A hero for standing in all-weather at Fremantle Port, to bear witness to what these gentle creatures are made to endure
Australian Alliance for Animals
For Dr. Jed Goodfellow, advocating for animals isn’t just a passion—it’s a lifelong commitment. From his early days as an RSPCA inspector to co-founding the Australian Alliance for Animals, Jed has dedicated his career to strengthening protections for animals and driving much-needed reform.
Events & Updates
Practical ways you can get involved
There are many ways you can make a difference to the live animal export trade that don’t require a financial contribution.
We run campaigns to lobby government and industry stakeholders which everyone can participate in. Making your voice heard is a simple and effective way of letting decision-makers know that a modern society like Australia doesn’t need to export live animals to maintain a healthy agricultural sector.
We also run events and fundraisers to connect with each other to bring about change, and we’re very active on Facebook, so get social!
Sharing our social media posts helps raise awareness and generate conversation about the need to end live animal export. It also helps build our supporter base and generates donations to help us end live animal export sooner.