Live Exports- Abattoir Closures

LIVE EXPORTS — ABATTOIR CLOSURES

628. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food:

In reference to the number of live animals sent to Middle Eastern abattoirs increasing by 11 per cent last year, I ask —

(1) Is the minister aware that Geraldton Meat Exports, an employer of 94 staff, was forced to close indefinitely two weeks ago as a direct result of its inability to compete with the live export industry for a viable supply of stock?

(2) Is the minister also aware that in the last month three abattoirs in the south west were also forced to close due to supply issues, costing the jobs of around 200 people in the Tammin and Beaufort River area?

(3) In a time of economic downturn and significant job losses around the state, can the minister explain why we are sending 4.1 million live sheep and 860 000 cattle every year to be slaughtered in the Middle East when every abattoir in WA is halal certified?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

The Minister for Agriculture and Food has responded —

(1) Geraldton Meat Exports has closed for an indefinite period as it is unable to source sufficient sheep and goats at this time. The abattoir has a history of closures in the past due to seasonality and inconsistency of supply. The sheep flock in Western Australia has contracted from the southern rangelands, Gascoyne and Geraldton region to the south west of the state in the past 15 years. Goat supply is always seasonal in the Geraldton and rangelands regions. I am informed that the reopening of the abattoir will depend on increased supply of stock.

(2) I am aware that the abattoirs at Tammin and Beaufort River closed for the winter months and other sheep/lamb abattoirs are operating at reduced throughputs.

(3) Western Australia exports sheep meat to a range of countries, including those that import sheep livestock. In 2007-08 Western Australia exported three million sheep and 252 000 cattle. Western Australian sheep are exported principally to the Middle East, whilst the cattle are exported principally to Indonesia. Whilst meat exports to these countries are growing, the markets in both the Middle East and Indonesia have a strong interest in sourcing livestock for a number of reasons, including religious practices, a high percentage of wet markets in these regions and the absence of refrigeration. The livestock exports cannot be replaced simply by increasing the supply of meat to these countries.

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  Sheep and cattle producers in this state are free to choose which market they will pursue. Producers freely decide to sell livestock to Western Australian processors or to livestock exporters. Current high prices for producers of lamb and sheep destined for either local processing or livestock export are underpinned by the livestock export market prices. This is a very positive situation for rural industries generally and will be assisting regional economies. The livestock export trade from Western Australia is presently valued at $350 million with a multiplier effect into the economy.