The live sheep export trade should be phased out. To do otherwise in the face of irrefutable and tragic evidence of systemic failure, negligence, abuse, neglect, and cover-up, now over many years, would serve as just another disturbing example of how our politicians and our political processes are rapidly losing their moral compass.

The most recent evidence of failure relates to the deaths of 2400 sheep on a shipment to the Middle East in 2017. Animals Australia says that more than 4000 Australian sheep died last year during five routine shipments to Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The sheep died while travelling in appalling conditions that clearly breached international standards, Australian standards for the export of livestock and the WA Animal Welfare Act. The exporter, Emanuel Exports, has a history of breaching standards without consequence.

The Awassi Express, aboard which 2400 ship died during one voyage last year, is docked at Fremantle Port. Credit:Tony McDonough

In the five decades since the live sheep trade began, 200 million sheep have been shipped to the Middle East and three million have died at sea.

There should be zero tolerance for more excuses and promises from the export companies, and zero tolerance for more feigned shock and horrorfrom our politicians. There is no need for yet another review or for the appointment of an inspector-general of livestock exports. It is already far too late for that.