Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 728 standing in the name of Senator Farrell before asking that it be taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

I amend the motion to omit the word 'Summary' and, on behalf of Senator Farrell, I move the motion as amended:

That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, by no later than 3 pm on Thursday 27 August 2020, the full Independent Observer report on MV Al Kuwait, Report 219.

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

The MV Al Kuwait that departed Fremantle in June was a horrific journey. According to the Independent Observersummary report, up to 5,000 of the sheep on board experienced severe or serious heat stress, with laboured breathing, open-mouth panting and appearances of being stressed or in extreme discomfort; 28 sheep died, and many more were hospitalised. We knew this was going to happen. We knew this was inevitable. That's why the rules prohibiting these journeys through the Middle East at this time of the year were put in place in the first instance: because the risk to the animals from travelling in those circumstances is incredibly high. The exemption should never have been allowed. There should be full transparency about this voyage, and this OPD is a good first step. At the end of the day, these trips, these voyages of misery that end up in animal cruelty, have to be stopped.

Question agreed to.