Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian community, our trading partners, our producers and our exporters all need clarity and certainty about the management of live animal exports, in particular how the welfare of animals is ensured in the export supply chain. Australians also need to be able to have confidence in the independent regulation of the live export industry and certainty that the regulator will hold that industry to account. The government has strengthened the regulation and oversight of the live export trade. This includes accepting all recommendations of the McCarthy and Moss reviews, the establishment of an independent inspector-general of live animal exports, appointing a principal regulatory officer, re-establishing an animal welfare branch and developing animal welfare indicators as part of the regulatory framework. This work is already underway. The government intends to respond to the Productivity Commission report by the end of 2018—noting, however, that the scope of the Australian commission for animal welfare as proposed goes beyond the constitutional responsibility and authority of the Commonwealth.