Inquiry into the performance of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry, and agencies
1.1
At a private meeting on 10 October 2012, the Rural and Regional Affairs
and Transport Legislation Committee (the committee) agreed to call the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and agencies, to a public
hearing under Standing Order 25(2)(a) to discuss recent developments in live
animal export arrangements.[1]
1.2
The committee held a public hearing on 1 November 2012 and heard from
the following entities:
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Australian Livestock Export Corporation Limited (LiveCorp)
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Australian Meat Processor Corporation Limited
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
1.3
The committee discussed a live export shipment of 21 000 sheep originally
intended for export to Bahrain that did not gain permission to unload, due to concerns
held by the Bahraini authorities about the health of a small number of sheep. The
exporter made arrangements for the sheep to be sent to Pakistan, where, with
the intervention of third parties, control of the supply chain was lost, and the
sheep were eventually culled. Officers informed the committee that an
investigation is currently taking place and the findings will be published once
the report is finalised.[2]
1.4
The committee sought further information on the health of the sheep. Officers
told the committee that the animals were passed as healthy and fit to load in
Western Australia.[3]
Dr Conall O'Connell, former Secretary, explained that:
...the exporter let us know that they were having trouble
unloading the vessel [in Bahrain], on the grounds that there appeared to be
veterinary health grounds. At no stage did the [Bahraini] veterinary
authorities actually reject the consignment on animal health grounds. In fact
it was the port authority that asked the vessel to move off.[4]
1.5
Officers also informed the committee that the vessel had discharged
sheep in Qatar and Oman prior to arriving in Bahrain.[5]
1.6
The committee also discussed how the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance
System (ESCAS) operated in Pakistan. Officers told the committee that this was
the first live export shipment to Pakistan since the introduction of ESCAS.
Accordingly, additional measures, such as the presence of an independent
monitoring officer from Meat and Livestock Australia personnel, and additional technical
staff were deployed.[6]
LiveCorp
1.7
The committee sought further information on LiveCorp's involvement in
the shipment of sheep to Pakistan. LiveCorp told the committee that it received
updates on the vessel through the Industry Government Implementation Group.
1.8
LiveCorp also informed the committee that it provides technical support
and services, and did so with this vessel, through consultants in relation to
point of discharge, transportation, feedlot, management and handling.[7]
Meat and Livestock Australia
1.9
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) informed the committee of its role in
the live export trade to assist exporters with their ESCAS compliance, and not to
act as an industry regulator.
1.10
The committee discussed MLA's involvement in the shipment of sheep to
Pakistan. MLA officers told the committee that a security assessment of
Pakistan was done prior to posting staff and consultants to Pakistan.[8]
Australian Meat Processor Corporation Limited
1.11
The committee sought information on the Australian Meat Processor
Corporation Limited's (AMPC) role in the meat processing industry. Officers
explained that the AMPC is a corporation that administers and invests in
research and development activities on behalf of meat processors, which covers
a range of areas such as market access, product integrity, food safety, and
climate change capability.[9]
1.12
The committee also discussed abattoirs in Northern Australia, subsidies
for importing live sheep, and the ACIL Tasman report: An economic analysis
of live cattle exports.[10]
Senator Glenn
Sterle
Committee Chair
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