As national debate around the ethics of live animal exporting boils over, the meatworkers' union says a ban on the trade will be a win for the South Australian economy.
Another live export ship, the Bader111, was due to load thousands of sheep in Adelaide on Friday, prompting Australian Meat Industry Employees Union state secretary Sharra Anderson to declare there was no need to send livestock offshore.
"South Australia has skilled people ready to process meat here," she said.
"We have the capacity, we just need leadership from the government to make it happen."
An independent report by public policy firm Pegasus Economics found the state's abattoirs had capacity to slaughter all live sheep exported from South Australia each year.
It also revealed the chilled meat trade was worth about $500 million - 20 times as much as the $23 million value of live sheep exports.
In an unlikely alliance, Ms Anderson was to address a rally on Friday afternoon with Greens animal welfare spokeswoman Tammy Franks, who said a ban would be a "win-win".
"Ending live export offers a win-win outcome for both animal welfare activists and Australian jobs," she said.
"The full potential of Australia's livestock industry will only be realised when we... look to create Aussie jobs by value-adding to the raw product and marketing chilled, disease-free meat to countries where we currently export live animals."
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has left the door open for a ban on live exports during the northern hemisphere summer, dependent on the findings of a review into the trade of sheep to the Middle East in the hottest months of the year.
If the audit, conducted by vet Michael McCarthy, finds live exports during the northern summer are unsustainable, the minister has pledged to act.
"If I'm looking at evidence that Dr McCarthy comes back with - that says there is no way in any sense that this could be undertaken - then we have to listen to that," Mr Littleproud told ABC radio on Friday.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called for a suspension in the trade while the review was completed, saying only a "monster" would think it's fine to continue without any change.
