Question On Notice No. 780 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 February 2014 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Agriculture and Food
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Question
(1) Are most sheep exported live from Australia sourced from Western Australia?
(2) Are most sheep exported live from Australia sent to the Middle East?
(3) What levels of humidity are commonly experienced during live export voyages to the Middle East?
(4) What degree of responsibility does the Western Australian Government have for the welfare of animals exported from this State?
(5) Will the Government take steps to objectively assess the livestock heat
stress risk assessment model as it does not protect animals from poor
welfare?
(6) Will the Government require that automatic data loggers are installed on live export ships to monitor and report both humidity and wet bulb
temperature to measure the heat load imposed on animals?
Answered on 13 March 2014
(1) Yes
(2) Yes
(3) All matters related to animal welfare monitoring during voyages are the responsibility of a Federal Department of Agriculture (DoA) accredited on-board veterinarian who provides the DoA with regular updates.
(4) None. Live animal exports are the responsibility of the DoA. However, the Western Australian Government fully supports the DoA's Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).
(5) No
(6) No