Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Rhiannon. I say first of all that it is heartening to hear the Greens supporting ESCAS. For once we have a system in place for the control of animals throughout the supply chain. If there are any breaches in the supply chain then there is a regulator who can then investigate those circumstances and take appropriate compliance action. This is the important framework. What can now occur within that framework is appropriate compliance action. That compliance action can go to the extent of ensuring that the exporter has additional conditions or the import permits are modified. Alternatively, exports can be suspended into those markets.

We also have a system where the exporters themselves can self-identify and provide advice to the regulator in respect of breaches of ESCAS. In addition, as we know, we encourage third parties also to provide appropriate information to the regulator in respect of any breaches of ESCAS. That has occurred on occasion, and we encourage any person who is aware of animal welfare breaches of ESCAS to bring those to the attention of the relevant regulator when they can. We also encourage, right across the industry plus the range of animal welfare groups out there, that, if they are aware of animal welfare breaches throughout the supply chain, they should make those available to the regulator so the regulator can investigate those circumstances, take that on board and provide appropriate regulatory response to those issues.

To provide some background, MLA is a research and development corporation. (Time expired)