WA reviews school internet filter on live export websites

The Western Australia (WA) education department is looking into why the 'Keep the Sheep' advocacy website is blocked on school computers. This site is aimed at opposing the federal government's decision to ban live sheep exports. Students and teachers from various WA schools reported that they could not access this website. A student from a high school in the Great Southern region noted that his efforts to use the site for a project on Australian politics were blocked. It seems that both the 'Keep the Sheep' site and another pro-government site were not accessible due to a firewall. The WA Education Department stated that the website was automatically categorized by its content filtering system. A review of this system is now underway. Screenshots suggest that the blockage was because the site is considered an advocacy organization. Many supporters of the Keep the Sheep campaign, like Kulin sheep shearer Shane Argent, expressed concern over this issue. Some students from agricultural colleges have also raised the problem. WA Farmers president John Hassell questioned why this particular website was blocked while others related to animal welfare were not. He believes it is important for students to engage with political content. Former principal Craige Pettit, who worked in the education department for over 40 years, added that students should have access to diverse viewpoints for their research. He mentioned that it is crucial for teachers to help students navigate political discussions, especially during election times. The federal government has announced that the ban on live sheep exports will begin in May 2028. The Alliance for Animals, which represents animal rights groups, has joined the call for the blocked websites to be accessible again, asserting that all opinions should be allowed to be expressed.