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

(Queensland—) (): What you are asking for is a three-word stunt by Mr Abbott and those in the opposition to reopen the trade whilst there is no supply chain assurance in place. The word of the abattoirs alone, as I have said again and again in this chamber, is not sufficient; it requires traceability, transpar­ency and independent auditing. The opposi­tion fail to appreciate that that is required to ensure there is no leakage from the system. Otherwise, you would ensure that cattle would end up in noncompliant abattoirs, would be leaked from the system and would continue to be mistreated. That is what your assurance would give. We argue that supply chain assurance is required. The government, for its part, has done three things to provide assistance to industry. The first thing was to provide income subsidy arrangements for those who are unemployed as a consequence. The second thing was to provide supply chain—(Time expired)