15th Jun 2011 – Senate Motions — Live Animal Exports — Move to re—establish live export with Indonesia

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Liberal Senator Stephen Parry, which means it was unsuccessful. The motion was:

That the Senate:

(a) deplores the inhumane treatment of cattle at some abattoirs in Indonesia;(Read more about about the conditions in Indonesian abattoirs on ABC here. )

(b) notes that this is unacceptable to all Australians, especially our farmers, who take great pride in breeding and raising healthy and well cared for animals;

(c) supports the suspension of trade of Australian live cattle to facilities that fail to comply with acceptable practices;(Learn more about the ban on live animal exports to Indonesia on Lateline.)

(d) notes, with concern, the impact of a total live exports suspension to Indonesia on:

(i) the economic, social and environmental fabric of northern Australia,

(ii) Indigenous employment in northern Australia,

(iii) Indonesian abattoirs already operating at acceptable standards, and

(iv) the entire cattle industry, including producers in the south who are already seeing reduced sale yard prices; and

(e) calls on the Gillard Government to:

(i) immediately establish a register of Indonesian abattoirs, to be known as the Approved Indonesian Abattoir Register, that have adopted and implemented acceptable animal welfare standards,

(ii) require that Australian sourced cattle be processed only at abattoirs that are listed on the register,

(iii) revoke the legislative instrument [Export Control (Export of Live-stock to the Republic of Indonesia) Order 2011 Export Control (Export of Live-stock to the Republic of Indonesia) Order 2011] on one or more Indonesian abattoirs being included on the register,

(iv) provide support to Indonesia to bring more abattoirs up to acceptable standards, and

(v) provide assistance to the cattle industry to deal with the consequences of this suspension.

References