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

It is always a challenge when you do not listen to the question that I just answered previously. If the Senate wants to note, in fact I answered the majority of that question just a minute ago, but I am happy to reiterate it. I had the fortunate opportunity to provide the Indonesian government with a draft set of standards for the cattle trade to Indonesia to recommence. These standards, as I said, are a practical interpretation of the current OIE guidelines. The Australian and Indonesian governments have agreed to use these as a basis upon which the live animal export trade will be established. That will provide information for the Indonesian government, the Australian government and the people who hold the export trade permits to be able to re-establish the trade.

Once that is done, we can ensure that the export licence has the appropriate supply chain assurance attached to it that ensures that, when cattle leave Australia to go to a feedlot in Indonesia and from that feedlot in Indonesia to that slaughterhouse in Indonesia, they can be traced along that line so that there is no leakage out of the system, so we have confidence in the system and so there is independent auditing of the system so we can be assured that animal welfare outcomes are dealt with appropriately through that supply chain. When we get that supply chain assurance program in place, the exporters can use that supply chain assurance program and demonstrate that they can ensure animal welfare outcomes through that supply chain, the trade will recommence. Having had those discussions with Indonesia, already providing them with the draft guidelines, they are now— (Time expired)