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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 638 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 October 2013 by Hon Lynn Maclaren

Parliament: 39 Session: 1

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.