Live Sheep and Cattle Exports

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL - Tuesday, 30 March 2010]
p1097b-1098a
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Robyn McSweeney

LIVE SHEEP AND CATTLE EXPORTS

89. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Is the minister aware that there is a federal investigation into the reasons for the high number of deaths
of cattle and sheep on the first shipment to Egypt since 2006?
(2) What were the weather conditions in the port of Fremantle from 19 February to 23 February when MV
Ocean Shearer sat loaded with cattle bound for slaughter in Egypt?
(3) Is the road transport or loading onto ships of animals prohibited in extreme heat; and, if so, under what
weather conditions is transport or loading suspended?
(4) For what period was an officer of the animal welfare unit present during the loading of the ship?
(5) What was the reason for the four-day delay in departure?
(6) As reported in Farm Weekly, does the minister stand by his assertion that the industry and this new
multimillion-dollar ship will deliver the highest standards of animal welfare in the world?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has
provided the following answers —
(1) Yes; I am aware that 266 of 16 500 cattle died onboard a ship to Egypt, and that a federal government
investigation is underway.
(2) The live export industry operates under the authority of the Australian federal government. Hon Tony
Burke, MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, has responsibility for the regulation of this
industry. Details about the shipment of cattle will be assessed as part of the federal government’s
investigation into the reportable mortality event.
(3) Exporters must comply with Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock, which covers all parts of
the export process, from the farm to discharge at the destination. Compliance with the ASEL is a matter
for the federal government.
(4) The lead agency for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 is the Department of Local
Government. The animal welfare unit is part of DLG. The Department of Agriculture and Food does
not have access to information about the activities of the animal welfare unit of the Department of Local
Government.
(5) As indicated previously, any details about the shipment of cattle will be assessed as part of the federal
government’s investigation of the reportable mortality event.
(6) I remain of the view that it is better for Australia to be involved with the export of livestock to the
Middle East, and to continue to strive for improved animal welfare standards throughout the export
process. If Australia withdrew from the industry, there is no guarantee that the countries that would take
our place in supplying livestock will strive for similar improvements in animal welfare.