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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Yat Yuen Greyhound racing track at Macau, known as the Canidrome, has been described by Grey2k as a "death camp for dogs" where tens of thousands of greyhounds have been killed over the last 50 years,

(ii) in 2013, Greyhounds Australasia blacklisted Macau on animal welfare grounds and stopped issuing 'greyhound passports',

(iii) between the start of 2013 and the end of 2015, at least 590 greyhounds were approved for export by the Australian Government to Macau, against the wishes of animal welfare organisations and Greyhounds Australasia,

(iv) following the closure of the Canidrome in July 2018, hundreds of dogs are waiting to be rescued, many of whom originated from Australia, and

(v) the Australian Government still allows the export of racing greyhounds to countries that are blacklisted by Greyhounds Australasia;

(b) recognises the Commonwealth Government's role in allowing the export of Australian greyhounds to Macau, and its obligation to assist in the rehoming of these greyhounds; and

(c) calls on the Commonwealth Government to cease issuing export documents for racing greyhounds without greyhound passports.

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 greyhound industry is regulated by state governments. The Australian government's role is limited to issuing export permits and health certificates under the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004 for all breeds of dog. The Liberal-National government has progressed a legislative amendment to the Export Control (Animals) Order that will allow the sharing of information between jurisdictions for the purposes of ensuring animal health and welfare. The amendment will allow state regulators to request and receive details of greyhound export applications. This enables the state regulators to enforce their policy that registered greyhounds can only be exported if they have been issued with a greyhound passport.

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

Given that we have passed 12.45 and there are people seeking to make statements, this item of business will be carried over until Monday.

Debate interrupted.