The federal government's plan to phase out the live export of sheep from Western Australia by May 2028 has been described by farmers and industry groups as a "punch in the guts" that could bring WA's Merino industry to its knees, as Hunter farmers warily consider the knock-on effects such a ban could have for the eastern states.
While NSW does not have a direct live export link from eastern ports, and sheep farming accounts for a relatively minor segment of the Hunter's agricultural production (valued at around $21 million of the Upper Hunter's total $462 million produced in 2013, according to Department of Primary Industry data), the Western Australia market has historically proven a restocking reserve for the eastern states to recover from hard times.
