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> 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> 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> 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> Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has launched an extraordinary review of his department after shocking revelations of cruelty to sheep revived calls for Australia's live export trade to end.

The industry is under pressure after whistleblower video footage emerged showing dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat in August 2017.

Mr Littleproud announced an audit of the Agriculture Department's capability, powers and culture, saying the independent regulator needed the right tools to ensure exporters do the right thing.

He said the department's report into last year's voyage had not matched the footage exposing cruelty onboard the ship where about 2400 sheep died after leaving from Fremantle.

"That is quite disappointing to me. I have some real difficulty around that," he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

The Emanuel Exports ship will have to satisfy authorities it's made improvements before it is allowed to set sail on its next trip to the Middle East after concerns about the airflow in sheep pens.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspectors visited the MV Awassi Express on Sunday and were concerned about the airflow over some pens.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party airflow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.

Mr Littleproud praised the person who exposed the cruelty and said a new whistleblower hotline would be established by the end of the week.

He also foreshadowed bigger fines and possible jail time for company directors, in addition to measure in a bill before parliament which doubles existing penalties.

"I'm horrified and shocked by what I saw and I know every Australian is horrified by those images of cruelty to sheep," Mr Littleproud said.

But he resisted calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, saying that would punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.

Animals Australia and the RSPCA are adamant the industry should be shut down.

"There is every reason to believe that what we saw on those five voyages last night is typical of what occurs on every voyage that takes place from Australia's shores," RSPCA chairman Gary Humphries told reporters in Canberra.

About 200 protesters gathered outside the West Perth offices of Emanuel Exports on Monday, chanting "save our sheep" and "get the sheep off the ships".

Western Australia's Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan called for a summer ban on livestock exports and older live export ships to be phased out.

The Agriculture Department says it will add an independent department veterinarian to the upcoming voyage to the Middle East. </s> A distressed sheep shot onboard Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, from Australia to the Middle East, captured over five voyages last year.

SYDNEY - An export ship due to carry more than 50,000 sheep to the Middle East has been blocked from leaving Australia after secret footage emerged of distressed animals dying and struggling to breathe in filthy conditions.

Australia's live animal export trade, worth more than Aus$800 million (S$806.3 million) annually, has been under scrutiny in recent years after footage shot at offshore abattoirs showed cattle being mistreated.

The latest images, shot onboard Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, showed large numbers of sheep packed together in small, stifling pens, covered in or surrounded by excrement. Many were dead.

The footage, captured over five voyages last year to Qatar, Kuwait and Oman from Australian ports, was released by activist group Animals Australia.

"They just died in front of us," Faisal Ullah, a graduate from Pakistan's Marine Academy who shot the videos, told broadcaster Channel Nine which first aired the vision on Sunday.

"Just one by one. One after another... I mean, you are just putting live animals into the oven."

Channel Nine said the sheep were stacked 10 storeys high in the ship and forced to stay standing for three weeks, often in "blast-furnace" northern hemisphere summer conditions.

Ullah said lambs born to pregnant sheep, which are not supposed to be exported, died on the vessel and were thrown overboard.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said on Monday (April 9) that thousands of sheep died.

The same ship, which was due to depart Fremantle on Australia's west coast this week, reportedly headed for Qatar and Kuwait, was blocked from leaving by AMSA after an inspection "raised some concerns about air flow over some pens".

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said on Monday he had held "constructive" talks with the industry and welfare groups to strengthen the standards in livestock trade.

Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week so people to "call out bad behaviour".

"It is important we get integrity into the live system and those people doing wrong need to be held to account, whether that is a company or an individual," he told reporters.

Emanuel Exports, which uses Awassi Express, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it had made changes to welfare requirements, such as lower loading volumes and a government observer on board its ships.

Australia previously suspended live shipments to Egypt for several months in 2013 after abattoir footage showed "horrific" mistreatment of cows.

Trade to Indonesia was also temporary halted in 2011 on cruelty concerns. </s> THE ship at the centre of the latest live exports controversy is likely to depart Fremantle early next week but with tighter animal welfare conditions imposed by the federal government.

Federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud has written to Emanuel Exporters Managing Director Graham Daws seeking assurances of stricter animal welfare measures for the Awassi Express that’s due to load 65,000 sheep and 250 head of cattle, in a consignment headed for the Middle East.

The ship is scheduled to depart on April 10 and complete discharge of its livestock on May 1.

But it was involved in a controversial incident last year where 2400 sheep died mostly due to heat stress and was subject to a regulatory investigation by Mr Littleproud’s Department.

The vessel will also feature in a 60 Minutes episode this weekend through video footage supplied by Animals Australia via whistle-blower that Mr Littleproud viewed this week which sparked his outspoken response yesterday and condemnation of its contents, igniting national headlines.

“This is the livelihoods of Australian farmers on that ship – that is their pride and joy and it’s just total bullshit that what I saw, is taking place,” he told media yesterday.

The letter reminds Emanuel Exporters that the federal government has responsibility to act in the interests to “all those involved in the sustainable export of livestock”.

That list included producers, exporters, support industries like transport and “the broader Australian community that relies on the Australian government to enforce standards that reflects their values, including protecting the welfare of exported animals”.

Mr Littleproud’s letter warns of new information that had come to light regarding the 2017 shipment where 2400 sheep died including; overcrowded pens; large numbers of sheep suffering heat stress; sheep unable to readily access food and water; and sick and injured sheep not being treated or euthanised.

He said he was concerned the shipment may have been too heavily stocked on previous voyages which appeared to have led to adverse animal welfare outcomes.

Among the fresh demands for next week’s departure, he’s requested a stocking rate greater than the 15 per cent reduction that’s been used in previous voyages which has had a “material impact” on mortality rates.

Other requests include increased ventilation and sufficient stockpersons, veterinarians, trained crew on board to maintain animal welfare and health, feeding and watering plans for the shipment and a proposal to ensure the conditions of the ship’s decks are maintained.

“The Department is seeking ongoing objective and verifiable evidence to be reported daily throughout the journey – this includes having an independent observer on board the vessel and the provision of more detailed daily reports, including with images,” it said.

The letter warns the Department Secretary’s approval is needed, in response to the company’s written request, before the livestock can be loaded onto the ship.

Mr Daws said he expected to meet the Department’s demands and the ship to depart on schedule after loading, which other industry sources also reflected despite an anticipated backlash, given the timing of departure and the 60 Minutes episode featuring footage also taken in 2016.

He said the vessel in question had come under scrutiny after the 2017 incident and tighter animal welfare measures were implemented.

At that time, the Department’s response required Emanuel to comply with a heat stress management plan for the company’s next consignment to the Middle East in September 2017 which recorded a 0.52pc mortality rate.

Its understood the planned 68,000 head voyage will be revised down to 58,000.

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) President Allan Piggott said sheep producers were upset, angry and disappointed about serious animal welfare failures in the live sheep trade to the Middle East, reported by media this week.

“SPA supports the livestock export trade because it is an important component of some producers’ livelihoods, especially those in Western Australia - however, we expect best practice animal welfare protocols and expect strict enforcement if standards are not met,” he said.

“We welcome Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud’s statement announcing a review to determine why these shipments did not meet the expectations of sheep producers and the broader community.

“We’ll be working with the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, which has already stated that animal welfare is its biggest investment and highest priority.

“As producers, we want to know that once animals leave our care, they are well looked after and we support strict enforcement of standards to achieve this.”

The incident has also triggered renewed calls to ban live exports by the Greens and independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie.
• Does this article interest you? Scroll down to the comments section and start the conversation. You only need to sign up once and create a profile in the Disqus comment management system for permanent access to all discussions. </s> Live exports: Maritime officials block shipment of 65,000 sheep to the Middle East

Updated

A scandal-plagued live export ship slated to take 65,000 sheep to the Middle East has failed to satisfy an inspection and must provide evidence of improvements before maritime officials will allow it to set sail with livestock on board.

Key points: Sheep were to be sent to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar in the coming days

The inspected ship was linked to 2,400 sheep deaths during a voyage last August

Industry says it will take steps to strengthen accountability and reduce risks

The concerns relate to airflow in pens where sheep will travel.

Inspectors from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spent hours inspecting the Awassi Express after it docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, on Sunday.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party air flow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," an AMSA statement reads.

To carry livestock, a ship must have a certificate for the carriage of livestock.

The inspected ship, used by Emanuel Exports, is the same vessel linked to 2,400 sheep deaths during a voyage to the Middle East last August.

The Department of Agriculture investigated that incident but scandal erupted after footage of the sheep surfaced, reportedly showing livestock being mistreated.

The vision, broadcast on Channel Nine on Sunday night, showed hundreds of sheep crowded into a small space, workers throwing dead sheep overboard, and faeces-covered pens where animals stood panting or collapsed on the ground.

It remains unclear what will happen to the sheep and 250 cattle Emanuel Exports plans to send to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar in the coming days.

Emanuel Exports was also responsible for a July 2016 consignment, in which an estimated 3,000 sheep died from heat stress during a voyage to the Middle East.

Animal welfare checks needed before ship can set sail

Emanuel Exports director Nicholas Daws apologised to farmers after the footage was broadcast.

"Animal welfare failures resulting in high mortalities, like the footage we've seen from the August 2017 Awassi Express shipment, in which 2,400 sheep died, are heartbreaking for our company and the producers whose livestock we export," he said in a statement.

Mr Daws said his company had made changes since that shipment and would implement the additional welfare requirements the Department of Agriculture has requested for the shipment due to leave this week.

"These conditions include a 17.5 per cent reduction in loading volumes compared to regulatory standards and the presence of a Federal Government observer on the voyage [in addition to an Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian] as required for all voyages to the Arabian Gulf," he said.

"We have also agreed to employ extra accredited stockpersons for the shipment and to adjust the voyage schedule so that Kuwait will now be the first port of discharge, ahead of Qatar.

"The ship is due to unload approximately 24,000 sheep in Kuwait approximately 14 days after its departure from Fremantle, and will then discharge the remaining 33,000 sheep in Qatar approximately three days later."

Separate to the AMSA inspection on Sunday, the Department of Agriculture also imposed special conditions Emanuel Exports needed to meet in order for the next shipment to proceed.

Those conditions include the company guaranteeing the sheep would have access to feed, water and appropriate ventilation and are loaded at a stocking density below industry standards.

Emanuel Exports would also need to prove to officials that there will be sufficient number of vets on board, trained animal handling staff and regular cleaning of decks.

The Department of Agriculture is also insisting that an independent observer will travel with the sheep and provide daily reports, including photos, so officials can monitor the shipment from Australia.

Along with AMSA approval, the shipment needs approval from the head of the Department of Agriculture for it to set sail.

After the August 2017 incident was revealed last week, Emanuel Exports' Graham Daws said the incident had prompted the company to change its protocols.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who viewed the footage last week, said he would be meeting with animal advocates and members of the live export industry on Monday.

"There's no point complaining about the footage. The footage wouldn't exist if the conditions on the boat were good for those sheep," he said in a statement.

ALEC determined not to let farmers down

Mr Littleproud said those who do the wrong thing should be "nailed, not slapped on the wrist" and ruled out a ban on the industry.

"The live export trade is important for our farmers," he said.

"I will support live exporters who do the right thing."

The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) said they would take steps to strengthen accountability and reduce risks to animals during exporting.

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These included investigating reducing stock density on trips to the Arab Gulf through high-risk periods, additional training for on-board vets and stockpersons, and additional independent on-board personnel.

"Farmers put their faith in us to sustain and grow the live sheep trade, which is worth $250 million annually, and we are determined that we will not let them down," ALEC chief executive Simon Westaway said.

Animal activists said the live export trade is untenable and have described the footage as "truly stomach churning".

"This shows that the way in which sheep are being exported does not meet the requirements of Australian law — that is clear," said Dr Bidda Jones, the chief scientist with RSPCA Australia.

Dr Jones said long haul live exports cannot meet health and welfare requirements, and that, "farmers have been betrayed by the live export industry".

"The evidence is damning in terms of the pain and suffering and death that are occurring on board," she said.

Farmers have said they were disappointed their animals were enduring deadly conditions and welcomed live export industry calls for new standards governing animal welfare on ships, especially when travelling during the peak of the northern hemisphere summer.

Topics: rural, livestock, livestock-welfare, trade, government-and-politics, animal-welfare, agribusiness, fremantle-6160, qatar, australia

First posted </s> SYDNEY
• An export ship due to carry more than 50,000 sheep to the Middle East has been blocked from leaving Australia, after secret footage emerged of distressed animals dying and struggling to breathe in filthy conditions.

Australia's live animal export trade, worth over A$800 million (S$805 million) annually, has been under scrutiny in recent years after footage shot at offshore abattoirs showed cattle being mistreated.

The latest images, shot on board the Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, showed the sheep packed into small, stifling pens, covered in or surrounded by excrement. Many were dead.

The footage, taken over five voyages last year to Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, was released by activist group Animals Australia.

"They just died in front of us," Mr Faisal Ullah, a graduate from Pakistan's Marine Academy who shot the videos, told Channel Nine which first aired the footage on Sunday. "Just one by one. One after another... I mean, you are just putting live animals into the oven."

The broadcaster said the sheep were stacked 10 storeys high in the ship and forced to stay standing for three weeks, often in "blast-furnace" northern hemisphere summer conditions.

Mr Ullah said lambs born to pregnant sheep, which are not supposed to be exported, died on the vessel and were thrown overboard.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said yesterday that thousands of sheep died.

The same ship, which was due to leave Fremantle on Australia's west coast this week, reportedly headed for Qatar and Kuwait, was blocked from leaving by AMSA after an inspection "raised some concerns about air flow over some pens".

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud yesterday said that he had held "constructive" talks with the industry and welfare groups to strengthen the standards in livestock trade.

Mr Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week.

Emanuel Exports, which uses Awassi Express, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it had made changes to welfare requirements, such as lower loading volumes and putting a government observer on board its ships.

Australia in 2013 suspended live shipments to Egypt for several months after abattoir footage showed "horrific" mistreatment of cows. Trade to Indonesia was also temporarily halted in 2011 on cruelty concerns.
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.