‘Can’t Eat Red Tape’: Farmers Rally Outside Parliament Against Live Sheep Export Ban

Over a thousand farmers gathered outside Parliament House on Sept. 10 in an ongoing protest against the federal government’s live sheep export ban—backed by the Greens—and other issues impacting regional communities. Attendees carried signs that read, “Keep the Sheep,” “No Farmers, No Future, No Food,” and “You Can’t Eat Red Tape.” Some points of contention with the Labor government include the 2028 planned phase-out of live sheep exports, the resumption of water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, increased biosecurity charges, increases to superannuation contributions, and the impact of energy development, particularly renewables. Mark Harvey Sutton, CEO of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, said they had appealed to the government....