Labor abandons Farmers through sheepish election preference deal

The ABC reported at the start of April that Shadow Agriculture Minister Julie Collins was sheepishly avoiding questions from the media and farming groups on her intentions to ban live sheep exports.

A policy that will take a sledge hammer to farmer sectors and regional communities across the countries. It has today been reported that this sheepish policy that Labor refuse to discuss, has come about through preference deals with extremist animal activist groups.

'...Labor has told animal rights activists that it will wind up the live sheep export trade should it win the May 21 election, setting up a fight with farmers, particularly in Western Australia where the opposition is in the hunt for several seats.

Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Julie Collins had been vague on whether a Labor government would ban the trade as recently as the election agriculture debate last month....'

'...But she finally revealed her hand when responding to a survey from the Australian Alliance for Animals for its political scorecard on parties’ animal welfare policies. Labor told the alliance the industry was declining, and it would re-commit to phasing out the live sheep export trade, “consistent with scientific advice in consultation with industry and the state government”....'
Labor to push for ban on live sheep exports

The issue is likely to affect Labor's chances in hopeful Western Australian regional seats of Pearce and Hasluck. Which explains their avoidance and covert approach to sneaking legislation in.