Western Australia's livestock industry has locked horns with the state's agriculture minister, accusing her of "whipping up" the furore over sheep exports.
There have been calls for an end to the trade since footage of 2400 sheep dying in filth and struggling to breathe in extreme heat on board Emanuel Exports' Awassi Express was broadcast earlier this month.
WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan is trying to use the full extent of state animal welfare laws to enforce standards on livestock ships.
She also wants a ban on live exports to the Middle East during their summer or, at the very least, for vessels to be air conditioned.
But Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook says she has an avowed policy to abolish the industry and is "whipping up" the furore.
"It would be so much more helpful if she'd just step up quietly to work with us, to work our way through this, rather than just emotively spouting forth in the press," Mr Seabrook told 6PR radio on Tuesday.
Ms MacTiernan said she wasn't the problem.
"The problem is the live exporters and the federal government who have not put in place adequate standards or enforced the standards."
Mr Seabrook said it was "absolute rubbish" conditions in the entire industry had been likened to the Awassi Express, which had "phenomenally low" deaths on board in the months after the ill-fated August trip.
"Something went wrong on that journey but this death ship nonsense ... is emotive and has no part to play with where we're going."
On Monday, Ms MacTiernan accused WAFarmers and Livestock Shipping Services of making false statements about the vessel Maysora, which recently left Fremantle despite concerns held by state inspectors.
It met all government regulations and standards but the inspectors - who had to secure a warrant to get on board - saw cramped conditions, empty water troughs and other troughs contaminated with faeces.
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