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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 758 in the terms circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

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 10 am on Thursday, 3 September 2020, the following documents:

(a) documents relating to the MV Al Kuwait voyage which departed Fremantle in June 2020, including:

  (i) all daily voyage reports,

  (ii) the end of voyage report, and

  (iii) the Master's report,

(b) all records of meetings and correspondence to and within the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment regarding the exemption decisions made on 2 June 2020and 13 June 2020 by the Department relating to the MV Al Kuwait voyage.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement?

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government supports the welfare of animals exported by sea. We have already released a summary in the Kuwait independent observer report and additional voyage report, and agree to provide the full report to the Senate. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment released its decisions relating to exemptions for the export of livestock during the Northern Hemisphere summer in June. An appeal against the 13 June decision to grant an exemption was dismissed by the Federal Court on 16 June. These were decisions taken by an independent regulator, and it is important that independence is respected.

Question agreed to.