ASHEEP & BEEF recently spoke with Victoria Nugent, Australian Community Media, following reports of the closure of Minerva's Tammin abattoir.
ASHEEP & BEEF Vice Chair Nick Ruddenklau made the following comments.
"It’s very disappointing to hear reports of a planned closure of Minerva’s Tammin abattoir, which follows the 2023 shut down of their Shark Lake abattoir in Esperance.
What this means for farmers in WA’s sheep industry is reduction to processing capacity and market competition, at a time when we need more of both thanks to the pressure caused by the federal government’s phase out of live sheep exports by sea.
ASHEEP & BEEF has consistently raised concerns with the federal government about their plans to reduce competition in WA by removing live export buyers from the market. Their live export phase out makes us even more exposed to the impacts of domestic abattoir closures.
In October 2024, we wrote to Federal Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins and asked her to advise on the government’s plans to address the challenges they are creating by reducing market competition, given that the issue is not considered in their transition plan.
In response we were told “The Albanese Labor Government took this policy to the 2019 and 2022 elections, and we are providing certainty, time and support to navigate this important transition.”
Needless to say, the time and support is inadequate, the phase out is not required, and the broader response we received did not give us any confidence that they understand or plan to address the issue of reduced market competition at all.
We have a great industry, with a quality product, and it is disappointing that the federal government is insisting on implementing policies that are not grounded in facts and science, and make it harder for us to do business."
ASHEEP & BEEF continues to encourage the federal government to cease their sheep live export phase out.