Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I, like many Australians, was shocked by the footage shown on Four Corners on 30 May. I was also shocked by the opposition's response on this issue too, quite frankly. The government shares the Australian community's concerns about animal welfare and is taking the necessary action to provide for a secure future for the live trade industry. But, as I have already announced, the government has suspended live animal exports to Indonesia until we are satisfied that the appropriate animal welfare standards can be met. I announced on 13 June 2011 that Mr Bill Farmer AO would also conduct an independent review into Australia's live export trade. Mr Farmer, of course, will examine each stage of the supply chain from paddock to the point of slaughter. But I have seen comments from Mr Abbott and Mr Truss on this and they seem to suggest that they would want to take—