The ABC reports that a consignment of 4,000 cattle due to be shipped to Israel has been waiting a month for approval from Australia's live export regulator to depart Fremantle. Earlier this year, the vessel en route to Israel was  sent back to Fremantle due to the high risk of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. After much wrangling, it was then re-loaded and sent to Israel around the Cape of Good Hope. This planned extra long-haul route was also intended for this cattle shipment, some of which had also done the aborted voyage.

But Houthis have now been targeting livestock vessels in the Mediterranean. So, the MV Bahijah remains at anchor off the WA coast, unable to begin the 33-day journey. And of course the farmers revert to their usual claims of protein deprivation at end destination despite Israel being wealthy enough to fly or ship in chilled/frozen meat should they so desire it!

Hopefully common sense will prevail and the Department will stop all live shipments to Israel for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the ship bobs around in lousy weather off Fremantle, probably at great expense.

UPDATE: the Bahijah left Fremantle unloaded on 2.8.2024

The Australian Dairy Farmer Jul-Aug 2024 reports that the China dairy heifer market  has slumped with prices for Australian Export heifers crashing as export demand dries up. Apparently stock have been sitting in quarantine with no market to be found. Bad for the exporters and the farmers but a lucky reprieve for the heifers. Voyages to China average about 21 days and there is no requirement for a veterinarian onboard. If the cattle do survive the voyage, the unloading and subsequent transport, conditions in China for Australian dairy cattle have been reported by insider veterinarians to be unacceptable.
This is the time for Australia to reconsider its involvement with this trade and farmer reliance on it. It should also be a wake-up call for New Zealand who are trying to restart their trade....to where? The Road to Nowhere?

A veteran of Western Australia's sheep industry says farmers should focus on new markets, not on fighting the live export ban. The ABC reports that farmer Rob Egerton-Warburton says while the fight has been gallant, the ban is now legislated and would take years to overturn, causing more uncertainty. 

Not so different to what long time export industry stalwart Tony Brightling also said.

Farmers pretty much have two choices now.....continue with their hysteria alienating much of the Australian public (who traditionally support farmers) and getting nothing but uncertainty or putting their heads down, working constructively with Government to maximise transition money and spending on the processing sector and new market openings.

See: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-07-03/sheep-industry-looks-to-new-pastures-after-live-export-ban/104049514

Legislation to bring the live sheep export industry to an end has just been passed in the Senate. Four more years of suffering for West Australian sheep but then no more.

VALE wishes to thank Senator Watt, who stood so firm in the face of relentless attacks, the ALP, the Independent Panel for their tireless work that showed that a supported transition was feasible, all those politicians who bravely voted for the motion (Senators Tyrrell and Pocock particularly) and all the individuals and organisations who worked so hard and for so long to make this day even possible. And thank you to Fazal Ullah, a Pakistani seamen, who courageously showed the world what was happening on Australian live export ships at a time when we were being told that Australia had the world's best export standards.