The return of the Morrison government in the Federal election held last weekend has been welcomed by key players in the live export sheep trade.
The trade appeared doomed if Labor won the election, with the party pledging to phase out the industry if elected.
Corrigin sheep producer Steven Bolt was one of many this week who had a feeling of immense relief.
"The coalition government campaigned with strong support from the live export trade and this now provides us with an opportunity to grow the WA flock," Mr Bolt said.
The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA (PGA) said it felt vindicated by the Federal election result on Saturday after undertaking a "ferocious campaign" to retain the live sheep export trade for the past 18 months.
PGA president Tony Seabrook said the industry would be able to work with a three-month moratorium on the trade from June-August but the "open ended" nature of the Labor Party's policy would have meant that "nobody (exporters) would have survived the next 12 months".
"We feel absolutely vindicated on the position we have taken from the start," Mr Seabrook said.
York sheep producer Peter Boyle, who supplies to the live export trade every year, said due to the threat of a Labor government coming to power he downsized his operation from 10,000 head to 700.
"We didn't know what we were going to do under Labor," Mr Boyle said.
"There's now surety for producers and shipping companies so that they can go ahead and invest.
"There's more confidence going forward."
Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association chief executive officer Emma White said the result provided some "clarity" for the live export industry, however there was still some uncertainty around the "practical implementation of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock which will take effect on June 1".
"The reality is there is a lot of regulatory change coming in," Ms White said.
- For the full story on how the industry has responded, make sure you get a copy of this week's Farm Weekly.
