2018-04-25
Hon. Diane Evers MLC
Surely all Australian producers, politicians and general populace do not condone the horrific conditions often experienced by livestock on export vessels.
Yet why is it that these death ships are still allowed to travel?
Why do exporters continue sending animals on long sea voyages that expose them to searing temperatures in the Gulfs hottest months?
And why is it that perpetrators are allowed to continue trading with nothing more than a slap on the wrist?
This problem is not new. And despite the imposition of trade suspensions, tightening up of quality assurance programs, an increase in surveillance, threats of heavy penalties, and promises of improved facilities on ageing livestock transporters, the problem remains.
The reality is that livestock companies simply cannot afford to upgrade their carriers to a standard that will enable livestock to be transported with a minimum of stress, notwithstanding their human cargo as well. Nothing less than air-conditioned housing is needed for comfort in the stifling heat and humidity of the Middle East, but this is a highly expensive and impractical solution.
A more pragmatic fix would be to halt live exports during the northern summer, so that stock are not conveyed into sweltry, suffocating climes.
But even this choice seems like the lesser of two evils. The question we need to ask is whether we need a live export trade at all.
There will be farmers who will throw up their arms at calls to end the industry. Yet many of these same farmers will be the first to admit they cannot excuse cruelty to animals.
Australia prides itself on its clean and green produce. And when it comes to livestock production, our farmers are leaders in ensuring their animals are treated with respect and care while on their paddocks. But it seems that many turn a blind eye once their stock is sold and leave the farm gates.
There have been calls to replace the live trade with chilled meat exports. Not possible, say the cynics, who point at a dearth of abattoirs in northern regions, exorbitant transport costs to truck stock to the meatworks, and a lack of processing infrastructure all-round, either in the country or on offshore sites.
But, given full Government backing, wouldnt this be a grand opportunity for entrepreneurial investment?
Its time for governments, both State and Federal, to show they have the mettle to fix the dilemma, so that the public can be confident animal welfare is being ensured while providing alternative options for our farmers.
Its time for them to take more immediate action against exporters who flagrantly violate the rules because they know they will get away with nothing more than a lecture for the umpteenth time. Its time for them to show they will support farmers in finding new options.
The agricultural sector, for its part, also needs to recognise that the times are indeed a-changing. Those bound in conservatism and traditional farming practices have often been left behind by their forward-thinking peers who have shown the willingness to embrace new technologies and techniques.
And so it is with the live export industry, which is now a remnant of a halcyon time when shippers formed a healthy part of a farmers income. A time when global warming was unheard of, and pesticide use was minimal.
Today emphasis is shifting towards more ecological and regenerative farming. Most farmers are deriving their income from grains, while those who keep sheep are profiting more from wool than the shipper market.
Indeed, the recent report by Pegasus Economics showed that the overall economic effect on WA of ending the trade would be marginally positive, because it would create more work for local abattoirs which are currently not running at full capacity.
Ultimately, even if the live trade is shown to be a profitable one for the economy, does the end justify the means? Or more accurately, does the means justify the end?
The Greens acknowledge the flow-on effects of the export trade to farmers, associated industries and communities which rely on this income.
But we are of the opinion that the livestock export industry is in immediate need of restructure. We need a plan with time-based measurable goals to transition the industry to a more humane and sustainable model where farmers livelihoods are secure.
Header photo credit: Christopher Burns at unsplash.com