Tracey and Fraser Paterson | Grassroot Advocates

As passionate, dedicated and – in their own words – ‘grassroots’ animal advocates, Tracey and Fraser Paterson are taking a moment to fully absorb what the landslide federal Labor victory means for the ending of live sheep export by sea.

“When you’re an animal advocate, the reality is that you don’t get many wins,” says 62-year-old Tracey, who grew up on a sheep and cattle property near Yass in NSW and has been campaigning against the live export trade for nearly three decades.

“When the Australian Parliament passed legislation in 2024 to ban live sheep export by sea, it was a monumental moment, one that we travelled to Parliament House to witness because it meant that the suffering of Australian sheep would have an end date.

“But we knew that if Labor lost the election, the Coalition would seek to repeal the legislation, and there would be no end in sight to the suffering of sheep caught up in this cold-hearted industry. That’s why we felt such relief when Labor retained power – their win means live sheep export will end on 1 May 2028, and the phase out of this outdated trade can finally begin.”

Tracey, together with her husband of 40 years, Fraser, has been actively educating Australians about the heartbreaking cruelty inherent in the live export trade, since meeting Dr Bidda Jones at RSPCA Australia in Canberra in the late 1990s.

“Dr Jones had released a report about live export. No one really knew much about live export at the time, largely because the industry kept the cruelty of the trade out of sight,” recalls Tracey.

“When I read about the suffering inflicted on these sentient, innocent animals, it led me to want to make a difference, so I started doing my own research and resolved to talk to anyone who would listen. I felt Australians needed to become aware of the horrors of live export particularly because, at that stage, there were no campaigns or awareness.”

Tracey and Fraser’s efforts to gather petition signatures, write letters, hand out brochures and speak to hundreds of people at stalls they organised at shopping centres and markets, began to morph into an active online community, and the creation of the Facebook page South Coast Animal Advocates.

“We wanted to be proactive at a grassroots level, guiding and encouraging people who were also concerned about the suffering inherent in the trade, keeping them across awareness campaigns and actions they could take,” explains Tracey.

“We wanted to spread the message that cruelty can never be justified by economic gain or profit, and there is just no way that live export can operate kindly or without suffering. 

“From the long road transportation of animals without food or water on cramped trucks where they are frequently injured, to being loaded on to ships for long, torturous journeys, and then being killed in countries with no animal welfare standards whilst fully conscious, it’s just wrong on every level.

“And since meeting Dr Lynn Simpson, the Founder of Vets Against Live Export (VALE) several years ago, we’ve been able to learn more about the realities of live export, especially what it is really like onboard the ships. Dr Simpson’s photographic evidence and personal experience have been so educational and important motivators for us.

“The bottom line is that live export just shouldn’t exist, especially when it can be so easily replaced by the chilled and boxed meat trade, which also keeps jobs here in Australia.”

Despite the end of live sheep export by sea set to become a reality, Tracey and Fraser remain committed to campaigning against animal cruelty in its many forms.

“We will continue to stay active at a grassroots level and support the incredible work being undertaken by groups including the Australian Alliance for Animals, Stop Live Exports, Animals Australia and World Animal Protection,” says Tracey who, together with her husband Fraser, says she will continue to donate regularly to these not-for-profit organisations, and encourage others to do the same.

“This win for Australian sheep is a small step in the fight against live animal export, but we see it as just the beginning of what can be achieved through lobbying and legislation.  There is much left to do in the fight to end animal suffering.”