❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about live sheep and cattle exports, animal welfare, abattoir practices, and the potential for domestic processing alternatives in light of controversies and perceived industry decline. The minister's response provides information on current livestock vessels, welfare checks, destination ports, economic impacts, abattoir capacity, and government support for the processing industry and alternative markets.
AnsweredQoN 699Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LIVE SHEEP AND CATTLE EXPORTS
699. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether animals are on board a livestock vessel currently in
Fremantle port awaiting export; and, if so, how long have they been on board?
(2) If yes to
(1), what checks on the health and welfare of these animals have been made to
date?
(3) What is
the destination port for the Western Australian animals that are consigned to
this livestock vessel and do the slaughterhouse practices there meet the
stringent criteria established by the federal government in the wake of current
controversies regarding cruelty in overseas abattoirs?
(4) If no
animals are on board, can the minister identify the source of the animal stench
in port?
(5) Since
shipping of WA sheep and cattle consigned to live export is seemingly
suspended, can they be processed here instead?
(6) With the
live export industry falling apart, has the minister identified where Western
Australian abattoirs are needed; and, if so, where?
(7) Will the
minister take urgent steps to fortify the domestic processing industry?
(8) Has the
minister directed his department or agencies to investigate alternative
markets, such as the lucrative packaged halal meat exports?
The PRESIDENT : Once again, the length of that question
stretches the boundaries of the word ''concise'', I think.
699. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether animals are on board a livestock vessel currently in
Fremantle port awaiting export; and, if so, how long have they been on board?
(2) If yes to
(1), what checks on the health and welfare of these animals have been made to
date?
(3) What is
the destination port for the Western Australian animals that are consigned to
this livestock vessel and do the slaughterhouse practices there meet the
stringent criteria established by the federal government in the wake of current
controversies regarding cruelty in overseas abattoirs?
(4) If no
animals are on board, can the minister identify the source of the animal stench
in port?
(5) Since
shipping of WA sheep and cattle consigned to live export is seemingly
suspended, can they be processed here instead?
(6) With the
live export industry falling apart, has the minister identified where Western
Australian abattoirs are needed; and, if so, where?
(7) Will the
minister take urgent steps to fortify the domestic processing industry?
(8) Has the
minister directed his department or agencies to investigate alternative
markets, such as the lucrative packaged halal meat exports?
The PRESIDENT : Once again, the length of that question
stretches the boundaries of the word ''concise'', I think.
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of Hon
Robyn McSweeney, I thank the honourable member for this eight-part
question.
(1) A vessel,
the Ghena, which was loading cattle
in Fremantle port on 19 September, sailed last night. Another vessel in
Fremantle port, the Ocean Drover ,
without livestock on board, is due to begin loading sheep on 21 September 2012.
(2) The
standard health and welfare checks required by the Australian Standards for the
Export of Livestock have been carried out.
(3) The
Western Australian animals on board the vessel that sailed yesterday are
consigned to various destination ports in the Middle East. From 1 September
2012, all livestock consigned to the Middle East for slaughter must comply with
the federal government's export supply chain assurance system.
(4) Please
refer to the answer to (1).
(5) Live
exports account for approximately 50 per cent of the total value of the sheep
meat industry—live exports and local processing—in Western
Australia. Live exports account for approximately 33 per cent of the total
value of the Western Australian beef industry. The substitution of live exports
with local processing has been extensively modelled, and the lowering of price,
the increase in meat volumes produced and the subsequent exit of producers from
meat animal production would lead to negative economic impacts over the
mid-term for WA. The notion of simple substitution does not take into account
market, price and economic realities.
(6) Western
Australia has sufficient abattoir space and a surplus of abattoir capacity at
present. Current abattoir location primarily in the south west and great
southern regions is appropriate. Private investment into the sector is
occurring. The Western Australian government has co-funded with the Rural
Industries Research and Development Corporation two studies into the
feasibility of a northern Western Australian abattoir and defined that regions
around Broome in the Kimberley represent the most favourable locations should
an abattoir proceed.
(7) The
processing industry, which is also an important part of the livestock sector,
competes in an international and domestic marketplace and is very capable of
capitalising on current opportunities for global demand for protein. The
Department of Agriculture and Food and other Western Australian government
agencies assist all applicants that approach them with establishment and
expansion plans.
(8) The Department
of Agriculture and Food actively supports industry to explore and capitalise on
market options for red meat. Most export meat processing facilities in WA are
already accredited to process for halal markets.
Robyn McSweeney, I thank the honourable member for this eight-part
question.
(1) A vessel,
the Ghena, which was loading cattle
in Fremantle port on 19 September, sailed last night. Another vessel in
Fremantle port, the Ocean Drover ,
without livestock on board, is due to begin loading sheep on 21 September 2012.
(2) The
standard health and welfare checks required by the Australian Standards for the
Export of Livestock have been carried out.
(3) The
Western Australian animals on board the vessel that sailed yesterday are
consigned to various destination ports in the Middle East. From 1 September
2012, all livestock consigned to the Middle East for slaughter must comply with
the federal government's export supply chain assurance system.
(4) Please
refer to the answer to (1).
(5) Live
exports account for approximately 50 per cent of the total value of the sheep
meat industry—live exports and local processing—in Western
Australia. Live exports account for approximately 33 per cent of the total
value of the Western Australian beef industry. The substitution of live exports
with local processing has been extensively modelled, and the lowering of price,
the increase in meat volumes produced and the subsequent exit of producers from
meat animal production would lead to negative economic impacts over the
mid-term for WA. The notion of simple substitution does not take into account
market, price and economic realities.
(6) Western
Australia has sufficient abattoir space and a surplus of abattoir capacity at
present. Current abattoir location primarily in the south west and great
southern regions is appropriate. Private investment into the sector is
occurring. The Western Australian government has co-funded with the Rural
Industries Research and Development Corporation two studies into the
feasibility of a northern Western Australian abattoir and defined that regions
around Broome in the Kimberley represent the most favourable locations should
an abattoir proceed.
(7) The
processing industry, which is also an important part of the livestock sector,
competes in an international and domestic marketplace and is very capable of
capitalising on current opportunities for global demand for protein. The
Department of Agriculture and Food and other Western Australian government
agencies assist all applicants that approach them with establishment and
expansion plans.
(8) The Department
of Agriculture and Food actively supports industry to explore and capitalise on
market options for red meat. Most export meat processing facilities in WA are
already accredited to process for halal markets.
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