Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) Executive Director, Rachel Smith, has resigned.
Smith’s departure arrives after an 18-month tenure of advocating for rural transport workers and operators at the association.
ALRTA President, Gerard Johnson, said Smith was an influential and strong voice for livestock operators representing the industry to stakeholders and government.
“Ms Smith was instrumental in achieving exemptions for livestock transporters under the Fair Work Legislation Amendment Bill, supporting WA members in the Keep the Sheep campaign, participating in the National Agricultural Rally which saw thousands of rural operators descend on Canberra, through to lobbying for increased funding for the Bruce Highway and introducing a new digital era for the ALRTA,” he said.
Smith has thanked all ALRTA members for their steadfast support as the association has worked to influence positive change within the government and the community.
“Together we have strengthened the reputation of the ALRTA as a credible and trusted peak industry body,” she said.
“The ALRTA has an important role to play in helping to set the political agenda as we head into the Federal election.”
Anthony Boyle, who has almost 30 years of livestock transport experience, has been appointed as Interim Executive Director.
“Rachel departs us with our utmost thanks and her unwavering commitment, passion, enthusiasm, and motivation will be hugely missed,” he said.
“On behalf of the council of the ALRTA, I would like to pass on our best wishes to Rachel who has overseen a huge transition period for the ALRTA.”
Boyle said it is a milestone year for the ALRTA as the organisation celebrates 40 years as a representative for hard working rural transporters across Australia.
The ALRTA National Conference is being held 4-5 April in Canberra.
The Keep the Sheep campaign responds to the Federal Government’s ban on the export of live sheep by sea from 2028 and is expected to impact rural communities in Western Australia and abroad.
Advocates for change anticipate the following consequences if this ban does not lift: large-scale rural unemployment, inadequate compensation for rural small businesses, alarming precedents for other industries, food security risks and reduced competition and supply (higher prices for consumers).
Keep the Sheep campaign spokesperson and WA trucking business owner, Ben Sutherland, has warned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ‘keep an eye on his rear vision mirrors’ after no direct response to questions about the sheep trade and reversing the ban in January 2025.
“We want him to know that Keep the Sheep is primed and ready for the election campaign,” he said.
