Media Release | 01 December 2025
Lachlan Hunter MLA
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Lachlan Hunter MP, has called out the Cook Labor Government for failing to release updated Western Australian sheep flock data for more than two years, leaving producers and industry stakeholders operating blind.
“The WA flock was last publicly reported in July 2022 at 12.4 million. Since then, the industry has witnessed a historic decline and Labor has gone silent,” Mr Hunter said.
Independent modelling suggests the flock may have collapsed to around 8 million head by mid-2025, a staggering fall of up to 30 per cent.
“This is a crisis, and the Minister’s refusal to release updated data is completely unacceptable.
Farmers, processors, shearers and exporters cannot plan what they cannot see. The lack of transparency is hurting confidence right across regional WA.”
Mr Hunter said failing to release basic flock numbers is symptomatic of a government that has abandoned agriculture.
“Labor cannot talk about supporting the sheep industry while hiding the numbers that show the scale of the damage. Whether it is bungled biosecurity, the collapse of live sheep exports, or the defunding of the GGA, this Government is asleep at the wheel.”
Mr Hunter said the Minister must immediately release the current WA sheep flock estimate, commit to annual public reporting, provide regional flock breakdowns and come clean with industry about the real state of the sector.
“The sheep and wool industry is a pillar of the WA economy. Producers and regional communities deserve honesty, not secrecy.”
ENDS
