Tim Storer (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with concern that:

  (i) three official reviews have found consistent cruelty and failure to meet required standards in the cruel and inhumane live sheep export trade,

  (ii) the Moss Review into the regulation of live animal exports found that:

(A) the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the Department) "lacked the skills" to protect live animals shipped overseas, and

(B) the Department's "focus on trade facilitation and industry regulation appears to have had a negative impact [on] the department's culture as a regulator", and

  (iii) two years ago, the Productivity Commission recommended the establishment of a stand-alone statutory organisation – the Australian Commission for Animal Welfare – to regulate the "efficiency and effectiveness of the livestock export regulatory system" and that it undertake "regular reviews of the livestock export regulatory system"; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to establish an Australian Commission for Animal Welfare, as recommended, and in the terms proposed, by the Productivity Commission.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to 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.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor will be opposing the motion. Whilst we agree with the sentiment of the motion with regards to failings of the current government in the regulation of the export of live sheep, the establishment of inspector-general of live animal exports must be the priority of the government as identified in the Moss review. This is a position abolished by the former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce. The inspector-general should be tasked with reviewing the recommendations of the Productivity Commission in relation to the possibility of establishing an Australian commission for animal welfare.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Storer for bringing this motion to the Senate. The Greens will be supporting this because we do need an independent office of animal welfare to drive policy and to protect animals. There is a huge conflict of interest when animal welfare issues are regulated by agriculture departments. The recent Moss review into live exports shows what a mess all this is. The government is quite happy to sit by and watch animals suffer, including increasing stock densities and live export ships against the advice of the Australian Veterinary Association. Neither Labor nor Liberal have the courage to take on the cruelty in the greyhound racing industry or to end the most cruel intense farming practices. Only an independent office of animal welfare removed from the conflicts of interest is the way to achieve this.

Question negatived.