Media Release | 3 December 2025
Lachlan Hunter MLA
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food
The Opposition have today forced the Cook Labor Government to reveal the true extent of Western Australia’s sheep flock collapse, uncovering figures in an Upper House committee that Labor has failed to release publicly.
While the official DPIRD website still claims WA has a flock size of 12.4 million based on July 2022 data, the real numbers revealed under questioning today tell a very different and alarming story.
The Opposition uncovered that, based on department modelling, the WA flock has fallen from 11.96 million in 2022–23, to 9.52 million in 2023–24, and down again to just 8.6 million in 2024–25 confirming an unprecedented decline under WA Labor.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Lachlan Hunter MP said these figures show a collapse that Labor has kept hidden from the public and the industry.
“These numbers were only dragged into the light because the Nationals asked the hard questions. Farmers, processors and exporters have been left in the dark while the flock has fallen off a cliff. Labor has failed the WA sheep industry,” Mr Hunter said.
“This is not just a dip. WA has lost almost a third of its flock since 2022 and is now below the reproductive rate required to maintain critical mass. That is a direct consequence of Labor’s decision to shut down the live sheep trade and destroy confidence.”
Mr Hunter said the Cook Labor government’s refusal to update or release flock data has compounded the crisis.
“DPIRD still lists the flock as 12.4 million. That number is three years out of date and completely false. The real figures exposed today show an industry in freefall and a government in denial,” he said.
“Producers cannot plan, invest or rebuild when the government hides the truth. Transparency is the bare minimum, and Labor has failed even that.”
Mr Hunter called on the Premier and the Minister for Agriculture to immediately release all flock modelling, reinstate regular reporting and present a credible recovery plan.
“Labor forced this industry into crisis. They must now explain to every farmer in WA how they allowed the flock to collapse on their watch.”
ENDS
