LIVE SHEEP
EXPORTS
638. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) How many
sheep exported from Western Australia will be sacrificed in the festival of the
sacrifice in Kuwait and Jordan; that is, the festival of Eid?
(2) Is the
minister aware of evidence from Animals Australia investigators that thousands
of sheep are being illegally sold for sacrifice at more than 30 locations
throughout Jordan and Kuwait?
(3) Why have not the ''strict'' live export
rules protected animals from this fate?
(4) Is the
minister aware that vendors appear to be attempting to conceal the identity of
exporters through the mass removal of ear tags from Australian sheep in the
region?
Hon
KEN BASTON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) All sheep
exported from Western Australia to Jordan and Kuwait are required to be
slaughtered in exporter supply chain assurance system-approved premises. In
August 2013, 53 705 sheep were exported from Western Australia to Kuwait and 10
600 sheep were exported to Jordan.
(2) I am aware
that the commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is
investigating allegations by Animals Australia of breaches of ESCAS relating to
Australian sheep in Jordan and Kuwait.
(3) The
allegations are subject to a formal investigation by the commonwealth
department of agriculture, so it is not appropriate to comment further at this
time. The Western Australian government supports ESCAS, which places
responsibility on exporters for ensuring compliance with international animal
welfare standards, maintaining a closed supply chain, third-party auditing, and
public reporting. The WA government therefore supports an investigation of any
alleged breaches of this system.
(4) The
allegations are subject to a formal investigation by the commonwealth
department of agriculture, so it is not appropriate for me to comment further
at this time.