Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

(1) Notes that:

(a) the Federal Court has today ruled in favour of allowing the livestock carrier Al Kuwait to depart Fremantle for Kuwait with 56,000 live sheep;

(b) the live animal export industry is systemically cruel, costs Australian jobs and lacks wide-spread public support;

(c) live sheep exports to the Middle East at this particular time of the year, into the scorching heat and humidity of the Middle East summer, has been shown repeatedly to be even more cruel; and

(d) the Government's claim to have made the trade less cruel is a sham as evidenced by the exemption for the Al Kuwait and previous exemptions for the Al Shuwaikh in December 2019 and the Maysora in March 2020.

(2) Calls on the Government to:

(a) immediately prevent the Al Kuwait from departing Australia with its cargo of live sheep;

(b) commit to no more exemptions under the current regulatory framework;

(c) develop a plan to completely shut down the live animal export industry; and

(d) remove responsibility for animal welfare from Ministers and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and instead establish an Independent Office of Animal Welfare with the power to investigate allegations of animal cruelty and to punish people and organisations that mistreat animals.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Clark from moving the following motion immediately:

That the House:

(1) Notes that:

(a) the Federal Court has today ruled in favour of allowing the livestock carrier Al Kuwait to depart Fremantle for Kuwait with 56,000 live sheep;

(b) the live animal export industry is systemically cruel, costs Australian jobs and lacks wide-spread public support;

(c) live sheep exports to the Middle East at this particular time of the year, into the scorching heat and humidity of the Middle East summer, has been shown repeatedly to be even more cruel; and

(d) the Government's claim to have made the trade less cruel is a sham as evidenced by the exemption for the Al Kuwait and previous exemptions for the Al Shuwaikh in December 2019 and the Maysora in March 2020.

(2) Calls on the Government to:

(a) immediately prevent the Al Kuwait from departing Australia with its cargo of live sheep;

(b) commit to no more exemptions under the current regulatory framework;

(c) develop a plan to completely shut down the live animal export industry; and

(d) remove responsibility for animal welfare from Ministers and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and instead establish an Independent Office of Animal Welfare with the power to investigate allegations of animal cruelty and to punish people and organisations that mistreat animals.

There is an urgent need for the House to consider this motion—

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is the member for Clark be no longer heard.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the motion seconded?

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seconded. We must stop these ships of shame—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The leader of the Greens will resume his seat. The Leader of the House.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the motion moved by the member for Clark be disagreed to. Putting the question in that form will mean the government can stay on that side. By the look of things, though, they are going to be joined by some members of the opposition. All those of that opinion say aye, to the contrary no. Division required. We'll ring the bells for four minutes, and we will require two things: firstly, we will just require a quorum in the House, which is 31, so that doesn't mean everyone has to be here, and, secondly, I will allow the whips to count any members who are standing, if that's necessary to maintain the spacing requirements.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

As there are fewer than five members on the side for the noes, I declare the question resolved in the affirmative in accordance with standing order 127. The names of those members who are in the minority will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.

Question agreed to, Mr Bandt and Mr Wilkie voting no.