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

It is timely to be able to put clearly on the record that the Minister for Trade, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have been diligently working on this issue to ensure that (a) the live animal export industry is returned as quickly as possible and (b) animal welfare outcomes are upheld.

This is unlike those on the opposition side. On Sky NewsMr Dutton said, 'We would have stopped them going to those abattoirs that have been highlighted,' and later he said: 'We wouldn't have had a full suspension. We would have stopped the cattle from going to those abattoirs where we saw that horrific action.' What he does not say is that without a suspension and an opportunity to reform supply chains, this approach would not have provided animal welfare outcomes at all. Without a suspension or supply chain reform in place, it would have ensured that animals would continue to be mistreated. That is what the opposition have signed up to. (Time expired)