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

I thank Senator Faruqi. I, like I think many Australians, watched that footage with a degree of concern. It was extremely concerning footage that was aired on 7.30 about a week or so ago. In fact, the first time I was personally was shown that footage was while I was doing an interview with 7.30they showed that footage to me—because this is being investigated, appropriately, by the department of agriculture. It conducts independent investigations, which I don't interfere in. So I did not seek to see the footage and I was not provided the footage by the department. It would have been highly inappropriate to do so, given that they're conducting that investigation in an independent way. I obviously did see the footage both when it was shown to me by 7.30 during my interview and when the program aired.

As I said, the department that I'm the minister of did receive allegations of noncompliance with the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, which is known as ESCAS, for sheep in Oman in late May. The department is now taking those allegations very seriously and actually did take immediate regulatory action while proceeding with its investigation. For instance, additional surveillance and additional reporting requirements were imposed on the exporters as an immediate step while the investigation is underway.

Senator Faruqi I think you asked whether the outcomes of that investigation, once its complete, would be revealed publicly. I can assure you that that investigation will be dealt with in the way they are always dealt with. Actually this is the first time there has been one since I have been the minister, so I'm not sure what the history is. If the history is that those investigations are released, then they will be made public.

As I said, I was concerned about that footage. It is important that Australia has a strong animal welfare record both at home and abroad. That's why we're having that matter investigated at the moment.