A petition urging the Australian government to maintain a ban on overseas livestock exports by sea is gaining momentum. Over 11,000 people have signed the petition, which will soon be reviewed by a parliamentary committee. The petition was started by Dr. John Hellstrom, a retired veterinary officer and former chairperson of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Despite improvements in transport conditions, Hellstrom argues that the animals still suffer during the journey and upon arrival at their destination. According to data from the Ministry for Primary Industries, 13 out of more than 28,000 cattle died during the first four shipments of 2022. The government has proposed stricter regulations for exports, but critics argue that these measures are insufficient. Animal rights group SAFE and a survey by Camorra Research also support the continuation of the ban. The Ministry for Primary Industries has stated that the ban will remain in place until public consultations are held.