FEDERAL Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has made a series of announcements following the 60 Minutes program on Sunday night into the live export sheep deaths that occured in August, 2017.
Mr Littleproud, who became Minister for Agriculture just before Christmas, was concerned that a mortality report he received recently from the independent regulator – the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources – did not accurately reflect the conditions seen in the vision on the ship.
He announced a review into investigative capability, powers and culture of the independent regulator, a number to allow whistle blowers to anonymously call and provide information, and an intention to work with the Labor Party to increase penalties for those doing the wrong thing, through a bill currently before Parliament.
“Personally, I’d like to see company directors be held more personally accountable if they do the wrong thing, facing big fines and possible jail time,” Mr Littleproud said.
“They shouldn’t be able to hide behind companies and shelf companies.
“I want to let the light shine in.
“No one who is doing the right thing should be scared of transparency.
“I thank the whistle blower for coming forward – we need more of it.”
Mr Littleproud has consulted with Animals Australia and the RSPCA, as well as industry.
He said a review into the independent regulator was a good thing.
“We need to make sure the regulator has the right tools, training and culture to make sure exporters do the right thing,” he said.
“This requires prosecutions and heavy penalties where breaches occur.
“Regarding the ship scheduled to leave Fremantle for the Middle East, conditions required of the exporter are a matter for the independent regulator, although personally I’m pleased with the idea an independent observer, paid for by the regulator, will be onboard sending back daily reports and photographs.”
The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) has described Animals Australia video footage circulated as highly distressing and unacceptable to the industry, livestock producers and the community.
“These deaths and the conditions in which they occurred are plainly unacceptable,” said ALEC chief executive officer Simon Westaway.
Export statistics show that in 2017, 12,377 sheep died in transit out of a total 1.74 million head exported from Australia – recording a mortality rate of 0.71 per cent.
“The range of livestock mortalities since 2010 has been between 0.6pc and 0.9pc and is trending down, but our industry is determined to achieve better outcomes,” Mr Westaway said.
He said the Emanuel Exports voyage in August 2017 struck extreme heat and humidity at Doha, which was the first port of call due to the blacklisting of Qatar by other countries at the time.
Mr Westaway said Kuwait, typically the first discharge port, experienced a drier heat which presented fewer heat-stress risks for sheep when a vessel was carrying a full consignment.
“We’re committed to further reform and ongoing improvement in terms of animal welfare in our $250 million live sheep trade,” he said.
“We support the Federal government’s current review of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) and we have also actively participated in AMSA’s review of livestock shipping.
“Exporters work with DAWR to manage the recognised risks associated with exporting to the Arabian Gulf in the northern summer due to the seasonal heat and humidity, but more needs to be done.”
One of a number of measures adopted over the past six months to mitigate the unique risks encountered in August 2017 was negotiating for Kuwait to once again be the first port of call for Gulf shipments.
Precautions including loading up to 15pc lighter of sheep volumes than ASEL requirements for northern summer shipments have also been formally agreed to by the exporter and DAWR.
“These steps are in addition to the industry’s long-standing climate control programs for shipping which statistics show has helped to further reduce mortalities and heat-related welfare risks,” Mr Westaway said.
“Welfare is our biggest investment and highest priority.
“Millions of dollars are invested each year by exporters and last year alone, our industry service provider LiveCorp invested $1.4m for welfare programs.”
Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA (PGA) president Tony Seabrook said it was impossible to defend animal cruelty and from an industry point of view he wanted to ensure a robust quality assurance program was in place.
“We are bitterly disappointed at what we saw on 60 Minutes,” Mr Seabrook said.
“With all that has happened with the implementation of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS), we were led to believe this type of intolerable situation was part of history and would never happen again.”
Mr Seabrook said government should avoid a knee-jerk reaction, although it was imperative to get to the bottom of what had happened and then get the sheep moved from quarantine as soon as possible.
He said if the live export industry stalled it would have a crippling effect on regional WA, and the WA sheep industry, with more than 80 per cent of live export sheep coming from WA this year.
Mr Seabrook, along with WA Farmers president Tony York, met Mr Littleproud in Perth for a round of meetings on Tuesday morning.
He described the meetings as productive.
WAFarmers said it stood behind the export industry but would not condone the activities and systems that led to the death of the 2400 sheep in August 2017.
WAFarmers livestock president David Slade has indicated strong industry support for the announced review into the live export industry following the deaths.
“We feel that this inquiry is strongly justified after the release of footage by Animals Australia and 60 Minutes over the weekend,” Mr Slade said.
“Any farmer or grazier would be sickened, saddened and angered to think that animals they have worked so hard to breed and raise would perish in a manner such as this.”
He said if the managing bodies of the export process could not ensure animal welfare standards were maintained or expected, they needed to show cause as to why they should be allowed to transport animals.
“We want total transparency from the industry regarding the health and welfare of our animals from our farms to their final destinations,” Mr Slade said.
“Our industries monitoring and traceability standards are world leading when they are carried out to their regulatory standards – we want these standards met to ensure our animals are cared for and delivered in the best possible health.”
He said WAFarmers was not opposed to reviews and changes.
“We expect efforts where world’s best practice can be realised from ourselves and our partners.
“If this is not occurring, then a review should occur so that we can get back on target for everyone’s expectations.”
WAFarmers will be working closely with government and all sectors of industry to ensure appropriate measures are put in place to ensure this does not happen again.
WAFarmers said the ability to export live animals from WA was critically important for the local farming economy, enabling large numbers of high quality animals to be sold for prices that allowed a long-term, sustainable and healthy production model.
Mr Slade said while areas of society would say the live export business was not critical to the health of the rural economy, in WA this was not the case.
The WA marketplace is unique in its use and dependency on the live trade, which has a vital effect of the overall industry for WA.
The fact that we have a strong offshore trade market has come from years of work by associations, partnership and individuals to extol the virtues of our Australian, and particularly WA production systems and produce.
Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) president Allan Piggott said producers across Australia were distressed, disappointed and frustrated at what has happened.
“Sheep producers want to know that, when their animals leave their properties, the same high standards of care that have been provided during their ownership are continued,” Mr Piggott said.
“We have not seen this occur in the footage and it is upsetting.
“SPA has met with Minister David Littleproud and we support him in his decision to increase his department’s regulatory action over the livestock export industry and to fast-track research and development into key areas of the industry.
“The R&D is required to support evidence-based decisions on key welfare solutions, such as stocking rates and vessel design, to ensure that any changes are supported by rigorous science.
“SPA will be supporting the government in the increase in regulation and working with industry service providers on R&D to achieve best practice animal welfare outcomes.
“Livestock exporters need to once again prove that they are worthy of community trust and so we support the need for full transparency of activity on livestock export vessels and encourage exporters to embrace this.
“They need to ensure future shipments meet the expectations of the community.
“The standards under which exporters operate – the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock – are presently being reviewed and so a number of issues, such as heat stress, manure build-up, stocking rates and staffing on vessels, will need addressing to reflect community expectations.
“Producers will be contributing to this review.
“We support the swift implementation of actions highlighted by the Australian Livestock Exporters Council to improve the accountability and transparency of the export industry.
“Producers need to have confidence that the systems in place to ensure this kind of mistreatment does not happen are effective and are monitored and enforced.
“We need to know that breaches will be investigated and, where failures have been found to occur, penalties are enforced.”
The WA Liberal Party has condemned any form of cruelty to animals and called for zero tolerance of companies that failed to meet regulated welfare standards for the transport of live animals.
Agriculture spokesperson Ian Blayney said he found the footage of the mistreatment of animals on the live sheep carrier Awassi Express extremely disturbing.
“No Western Australian could look at that footage and not be deeply upset,” Mr Blayney said.
“The footage is proof that not all operators are adhering to the high standards that are regulated and there should be no leeway for those operators.
“We cannot allow this type of cruelty to happen and we cannot jeopardise what is a multi-million dollar export industry for this State.”
Mr Blayney said live exports were crucial to the long-term sustainability of the sheep industry in WA and rigid enforcement of standards was crucial for the sustainability of the live export trade.
“We have to get this right,” Mr Blayney said.
“WA farmers produce approximately four million lambs every year and it is live exports that underpin the viability of the sector, ensuring jobs for thousands of Western Australians.
“There is not one farmer I know that would not be upset by the pictures of distressed sheep that were aired over the weekend.
“All farmers I know have a strong commitment to the ethical treatment of their stock and would welcome total transparency from the industry regarding the health and welfare of their animals through to their final destinations.
“We have the regulations and standards in place, they must be enforced.”
