Agriculture Minister David Littleproud will travel to the Middle East to assure live sheep importers Australia is staying in the trade after a crackdown on dodgy exporters.
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Mr Littleproud will visit Kuwait and Qatar over the weekend after adopting the recommendations of a veterinarian-led review into live sheep exports during the northern hemisphere summer.
Giving sheep more room on ships during the hottest months and reducing animal numbers headline a slew of measures designed to stop cruelty.
The industry has been rocked by revelations of sheep dying in their own filth in horrific conditions during Middle-East bound voyages.
Mr Littleproud will assure major Middle Eastern importers Australia will continue trading to the region.
He'll return home next week to introduce a bill to parliament slapping harsh new penalties on exporters doing the wrong thing, including jail sentences of up to 10 years.
A separate piece of legislation to stop live sheep exports will also hit the lower house next week.
Liberal MP Sussan Ley is pushing on with plans to introduce a private bill to phase out the trade, despite tougher rules imposed on the industry.
Australian Associated Press
