Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food, Lachlan Hunter MP, says the decision by Elders Limited to shift its Western Australian wool operations to Victoria is yet another devastating blow to regional jobs, and a direct consequence of Labor’s reckless shutdown of the live sheep trade.
“The move confirms what regional communities have been warning for months Labor’s policies are gutting an entire industry. Elders has been operating in Western Australia for over a century and now they’re walking away,” Mr Hunter said.
“This isn’t just a business decision. This is the real-world impact of bad government policy.”
Elders has confirmed it will move all WA wool handling and sales to Melbourne by 2027, citing a collapse in local production volumes of nearly 40 per cent in recent years.
Industry leaders have directly linked this decline to the Federal Labor Government’s decision to phase out live sheep exports a policy that has already begun driving producers out of the sector.
“This is exactly what happens when you rip the heart out of a supply chain,” Mr Hunter said.
“You shut down live exports, farmers exit the industry, sheep numbers collapse and then the businesses that rely on that production start leaving too.”
Western Australia’s sheep flock has fallen dramatically from historic highs of around 40 million head to as low as 8–10 million today, among the worst levels in living memory.
“This is not a coincidence. This is a policy failure.”
Mr Hunter said the consequences would be felt far beyond wool sales.
“This means fewer local jobs, less investment, and more economic activity leaving Western Australia.”
“Today it’s wool handling. Tomorrow it’s transport, shearing, rural services — the whole ecosystem is at risk.”
He also warned this could be just the beginning.
“Industry groups are already calling this the ‘first domino’ to fall.”
Mr Hunter called on both State and Federal Labor Governments to take responsibility for the damage being done to regional communities.
“Labor has ignored the warnings, ignored the farmers, and ignored the regions.”
“Now we are seeing the consequences in black and white jobs leaving, businesses leaving, and an industry in decline.”
“This is what happens when ideology trumps common sense.”
