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Fired-up farmers have warned a parliamentary inquiry that some Western Australian towns will not survive if the live sheep export trade is banned by 2028 as planned.

The inquiry, which sat in regional WA on Friday, heard from farmers, shearers, transporters and community members impacted by the Albanese government’s ban.

Farm utes lined up for kilometres as farmers and industry workers showed up in force to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed legislation.

During an at-times heated debate, stakeholders expressed concern the ban would ring the death knell for regional towns.

WA Farmers’ John Hassell told the inquiry: “People will leave, schools will close, police stations will disappear. This is devastating to regional southwest Western Australia.”

Questions from committee chair Meryl Swanson about how farming organisations were helping members to transition out of …