Livestock ships could be blocked under state law, says WA Premier

Updated

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has threatened to ramp up action against the live animal export trade, saying he is open to using state law to block livestock carriers breaching animal welfare standards from leaving the state's ports.

The industry is already in defensive mode after footage emerged showing some of the almost 2,400 sheep who died of heat stress aboard the Awassi Express in the Middle East in August last year.

That ship is currently still blocked in Fremantle port as it undergoes upgrades to its ventilation system to meet requirements by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But on Wednesday another ship, the MV Maysora, left the same port for Turkey despite concerns by inspectors from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

They reported to WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan they had seen sheep on board being crushed and some water troughs were emptied or full of faeces, before even leaving for its destination in Turkey.

Livestock Shipping Services has comprehensively rejected any suggestion conditions were inadequate for the sheep in its consignment on the Maysora.

Managing director Ahmad Ghosheh said he was on board when WA inspectors examined the ship and their questions "were answered to the apparent satisfaction of the inspectors in the context of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock" (ASEL).

"For example, where it was noted that some water troughs in newly loaded pens were empty, it was explained that ASEL requires that water must be provided to sheep within 12 hours of loading," Mr Ghosheh said.

"Similarly, when faeces were observed in some water troughs, it was explained that troughs are regularly cleaned by the 35 livestock crew members in accordance with regulatory requirements.

But Mr McGowan said the State Government could take action if there were breaches of the WA Animal Welfare Act.

"I'd be open to it if we got the right legal advice," he said.

"So we're not saying close the industry down, but what we are saying at this point is if there are examples like we saw recently, well then we'll use state law if we can to try and arrest and fix the problem we're facing."

The Department of Agriculture said it received reports about MV Maysora from WA inspectors on Friday.

In a statement, a spokesperson said all issues raised had been investigated by an Australian Accredited Veterinarian, an accredited stockman and an independent vet, who were on board the vessel.

"The majority of issues identified by WA inspectors were witnessed at the time a large volume of animals were being loaded onto the vessel for departure and do not reflect the conditions maintained on the voyage," the statement read.

"The department has confirmed that the health and welfare of animals on board is being maintained in accordance with the required Australian standards."



Ms MacTiernan called for a ban on live exports in the northern hemisphere summer, when most livestock deaths occur.

Mr McGowan said the industry was in trouble.

Topics: government-and-politics, trade, livestock-welfare, wa

First posted</s>Livestock ships could be blocked under state law, says WA Premier

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has threatened to ramp up action against the live animal export trade, saying he is open to using state law to block livestock carriers breaching animal welfare standards from leaving the state's ports.

The industry is already in defensive mode after footage emerged showing some of the almost 2,400 sheep who died of heat stress aboard the Awassi Express in the Middle East in August last year.

That ship is currently still blocked in Fremantle port as it undergoes upgrades to its ventilation system to meet requirements by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But on Wednesday another ship, the MV Maysora, left the same port for Turkey despite concerns by inspectors from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

They reported to WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan they had seen sheep on board being crushed and some water troughs were emptied or full of faeces, before even leaving for its destination in Turkey.

Mr McGowan said the State Government could take action if there were breaches of the WA Animal Welfare Act.

"So we're not saying close the industry down, but what we are saying at this point is if there are examples like we saw recently, well then we'll use state law if we can to try and arrest and fix the problem we're facing."

The Department of Agriculture said it received reports about MV Maysora from WA inspectors on Friday.

In a statement, a spokesperson said all issues raised had been investigated by an Australian Accredited Veterinarian, an accredited stockman and an independent vet, who were on board the vessel.

"The department has confirmed that the health and welfare of animals on board is being maintained in accordance with the required Australian standards."



Ms MacTiernan called for a ban on live exports in the northern hemisphere summer, when most livestock deaths occur.

Mr McGowan said the industry was in trouble.</s>WA Premier Mark McGowan says state law may be used in the future to stop livestock carriers from leaving if they breach animal welfare standards.

MV Awassi Express remains at Fremantle Port as it undergoes improvements to meet Australian airflow standards, after 2400 sheep died from extreme heat during a voyage to the Middle East in August 2017.

MV Maysora departed for Turkey last week with 77,000 sheep and 9500 cattle on board amid ongoing concerns about the industry.

Mr McGowan said he was willing to look at the legal options available under the Animal Welfare Act if there were breaches of Australian standards in the future.

"I'd be open to it if we got the right legal advice and we knew these ships were engaged in some appalling conduct," he told reporters on Sunday.</s>The live export industry has been accused of spreading "false information" about a shipment after WA government inspectors noted troubling conditions before it left Fremantle.

After the Maysora departed last week it emerged inspectors from the Department of Primary Industries - who had to secure a warrant to get on board - saw cramped conditions, empty water troughs and other troughs contaminated with faeces.

WAFarmers President Tony York on Monday condemned the state inspectors, saying they should have acted "on any concerns they had before the ship slipped anchor".

But Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan says there were questions as to whether the ship could be prevented from departing under state animal welfare laws.

"The findings of the inspection report from the Maysora remain a serious cause for concern," she said.

"We await a formal response from the federal government to these concerns."

She also said the operator Livestock Shipping Services had falsely claimed no attempt was made to stop inspectors boarding the Maysora.

"Consent was not granted," she said.

Mr York said the vessel met all government regulations and standards.

"It is not unusual for stock to contaminate water troughs, even moments after they are cleaned, and for stock to be without feed for short periods of time while settling into new surroundings and pens," he said.

Meanwhile, the ship that sparked calls for a ban of live exports to the Middle East during their summer months, Emanuel Exports' Awassi Express, remains docked in Fremantle.

It has not yet met ventilation conditions imposed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after footage of 2400 sheep dying in filth and struggling to breathe in extreme heat was broadcast.</s>Animal welfare organisations have indicated that they are concerned about a perceived conflict of interest of a veterinarian appointed to conduct a review into conditions experienced by sheep on live export ships during the Middle Eastern summer.

Dr Michael McCarthy was appointed by the agriculture minister, David Littleproud, to conduct the review on 10 April, two days after 60 Minutes aired footage of sheep suffering extreme distress on the Emanuel Exports stocked ship Awassi Express, which left Fremantle on 1 August 2017 and lost 2,400 sheep to heat stress.

McCarthy has more than 30 years experience as a livestock veterinarian and has worked most of his career in the live export trade.

He has acted as shipboard veterinarian on 65 live export voyages for eight major Australian exporters, including Emanuel Exports, conducted industry-funded research for Meat and Livestock Australia and Livecorp, and acted as an expert consultant for Murdoch University and the University of Queensland.

Animal welfare groups say McCarthy is extremely knowledgeable about the industry but his extensive working history as a paid contractor to the live export industry created a perceived conflict of interest.

The RSPCA, Animals Australia and Vets Against Live Export (VALE) wrote separately to Littleproud raising concerns about McCarthy’s appointment.

VALE spokeswoman Sue Foster said McCarthy was a well-published researcher who had made recommendations for change in the past, although those recommendations had not been taken up by the industry.

But she said his extensive work history with key live exporters, including Emanuel Exports, whose conduct sparked the review, created a possible conflict of interest.

“VALE has concerns about the independence of the review given the long-term association and employment that vet has in the live export industry,” Foster told Guardian Australia.

The RSPCA said it did not questions McCarthy’s scientific credentials but said “we were surprised that they had appointed someone who was so reliant on industry funding”.

Animals Australia said the review should have been co-chaired by Australia’s chief veterinary officer.

McCarthy declined to comment when contacted by Guardian Australia.



Littleproud said McCarthy’s review would be “absolutely independent”.
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“Animal welfare groups regularly cite Dr McCarthy’s research in their arguments and some were consulted prior to him being consulted,” Littleproud said, adding that McCarthy would consult with animal welfare organisations as part of the review.

“Appointing a vet who had never had any involvement with live export to perform a review of conditions on live export boats would be a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.

“The reviews I’ve ordered after being in the job just three months will be done by eminent and fiercely independent people.”

Neither Animals Australia, nor the RSPCA, nor VALE said they were consulted specifically about McCarthy’s appointment.

Labor has called for an immediate suspension of the live sheep export trade until the McCarthy review is completed. It has also called for a three-month ban during the hottest months in the Persian Gulf.

The final report is due on 11 May.

Littleproud has said that he will support an end to the summer trade if that is what McCarthy recommends, saying on Friday that: “If I am looking at evidence that Dr McCarthy comes back with that says there is no way in any sense that this could be undertaken then we have to listen to that.”
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says he is willing to use state law to block livestock export ships on animal welfare grounds. The move comes as MV Awassi Express is detained in Fremantle undergoing ventilation upgrades mandated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after video emerged of 2,400 sheep dying on board during a voyage last August. MV Maysora left the port last week despite inspectors reporting water troughs that were empty or filled with faeces.