The president of the WA Livestock and Rural Transport Association (LRTAWA), Ben Sutherland, says the live sheep export transition grants may not deliver relief to rural transporters.
The Livestock Transport Industry Transport Program for the livestock transport sector is now open on GrantConnect until December 1, 2025, with operators eligible for up to $40,000 apiece.
But Sutherland says he’s disappointed to learn the grants cannot be used for retrospective investments and require an equal co-contribution.
“Many transporters saw the writing on the wall once confidence in the industry evaporated and made changes to their businesses,” he said
‘They have already sold equipment and invested in new infrastructure, but that comes at a cost and a risk and none of it will be recognised through the grant process.
‘The grants require an equal co-contribution. The businesses that have already made changes have limited capacity to invest further to obtain a potential $40,000 boost.”
Sutherland said his initial assessment of the application process is that it is complex and looks like a box-ticking exercise to enable the government to say it has made assistance available to the transport industry
“In the middle of harvest, I doubt too many transporters can take the time to understand the process and fill the application in,” he said.
“Early indications are that it will cost around 16 per cent of the total grant to get help from professionals with no guarantee the application will be successful.
“On top of that, in most cases the co-contribution will need to be financed. Even if the financiers accept an illusory promise of a cash deposit based on a potentially successful grant application, most offers are only valid for 90 days and would have to be renewed before successful grants are announced in April 2026.”
Sutherland said the LRTAWA was looking at ways to help its members with the process.
He called on the government to commit to a second round of funding if the $1.5 million on offer is not taken up in the first round.
“Better still, sit around the table with us and genuinely work with us to devise assistance that will make a real difference.”
The Australian Parliament has passed laws to end live sheep exports by sea from May 1, 2028.