The Coalition is basing its election strategy on the assumption that the only voters who care about animal cruelty are inner-city lefties. It's a risky bet.
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Peter Dutton has said his government would reverse the live sheep export phase-out. This would doom thousands of animals to torturous conditions en route to the Middle East.
Yet, while it may not command headlines like natural disasters or the cost of living in the lead-up to polling day, animal welfare matters to Australians.
This, after all, is the same country that was collectively shocked in 2018, when footage of sheep slowly dying from heat stress on the Awassi Express went public.
Most Australians love animals. They are horrified when confronted by cruelty. And if more people learn that animal welfare is on the ballot at this election it could create complications for the Coalition.
The Albanese Labor government pledged to phase out live sheep exports by sea, a trade that has plummeted by 90 per cent over the past two decades, with a further 40 per cent decline projected for 2025/26.
Last year, Parliament passed laws to end the trade by 2028, with Labor investing nearly $140 million to support a transition to sheep meat exports - a more ethical, sustainable and profitable alternative that keeps the sheep and jobs here in Australia.
It is a significant victory for animal welfare that has the backing of more than seven in 10 Australians - even in WA, the only state where the live sheep export trade still operates.
The underlying conditions that led to Awassi haven't changed. Despite what live export companies would have you believe, it's only a matter of time before another disaster strikes.
Australians recognise the inherent cruelty of this trade: sheep endure weeks in overcrowded, hot conditions, living in their own filth, subjected to rough seas, and constant noise and lighting. The ones that survive face brutal and inhumane slaughter while fully conscious.
I believe most voters think the passing of legislation means an end to this cruel trade once and for all.
But we know that Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie has vowed to overturn the phase-out within the first 100 days of a Coalition government. And party leader David Littleproud promised "a future Coalition government will reinstate the live sheep export trade."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also said a Coalition government would "save" the live sheep export trade.
This is completely out of touch with modern Australia. It's a misguided and outdated attempt to appease the live sheep export lobby, which seeks to squeeze every last cent from a dying trade.
It ignores most Australians who care about animals.
It's not hard to see why so many Australians support the phase-out. In our pet-loving, TikTok-embracing, socially conscious nation, there is a growing compassion for animals and an increasing concern for their welfare.
From viral cat videos to pets with their own social media accounts, animals reign online.
Neil the Seal, the playful southern elephant seal from Tasmania, has won over 1.1 million followers, while Robert Irwin shares his passion for Australia's unique wildlife with a following of 8 million.
When it comes to sheep specifically, a Monash University survey found that most Australians believe, correctly, that they are sentient. And nearly nine in 10 agree that the law should ensure all sentient animals receive good welfare.
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RSPCA-commissioned independent surveys show concern about live animal export has been growing consistently for years, rising from 49 per cent of Australians in 2009 to 78 per cent in 2022.
Even the live export lobby's own sentiment research shows that only 16 per cent of Australians think that conditions for sheep on live export ships are in line with Australian animal welfare standards, compared to 41 per cent who disagree.
But do these views just reflect the out-of-touch urban elite? Hardly.
Regional Australians actually support animal protection laws more strongly (90 per cent) than city dwellers (86 per cent), according to the Monash University findings.
The Liberal Party needs to wake up to this reality. Following the Nationals back into the cruel past is a foolish option for a party of government.
Smart producers are already pivoting toward more lucrative sheep meat exports and crop production.
If the Coalition hopes to maintain relevance and connect not only with the broader electorate but also with farmers whose reputations are increasingly tied to ethical practices, it must adapt to evolving community expectations.
- Dr Bidda Jones AM is the co-founder of Australian Alliance for Animals, and former Chief Scientist with RSPCA Australia.
