[Greens-Media] MS: Lynn MacLaren - Momentum Strong to End Live Exports

[Guthrie, Shane]

Momentum Strong to End Live Exports

A flash protest at Fremantle port attracted 150 people calling for an end to live exports opposite the berthed Ocean Drover on Saturday morning.

With the recent debacles in Pakistan indicating a trade "falling apart at the seams", Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens spokesperson on Animal Welfare, Ms MacLaren called on the State Government to get farming families out of this failing trade.

"It's transition time," said Ms MacLaren, speaking at the demonstration. "The writing has been on the table for a long time now: delayed shipments, stranded animals. New Federal animal welfare regulations aren't able to prevent the horrific levels of morbidity and mortality on shipments.

"Sheep suffer and die on these ships because they grow weak and starve to death. Vulnerable to disease, ammonia gases, and the oppressive heat and humidity of a northern hemisphere summer, some become so distressed that they no longer eat.

"The sheep eventually unloaded in Pakistan, whose condition remains unclear, had been 37 days at sea. It's outrageous.

"This is a dirty business in which so many have suffered and died. In light of the events now unfolding in Pakistan, the fate of these animals is anyone's guess. The Government's revamped regulatory system is still unable to ensure basic animal welfare outcomes.

Fremantle City Councillor Andrew Sullivan, Greens candidate for the seat of Fremantle, told the crowd that the trade has changed much over the years and his meeting with federal regulators in town last week revealed fatal flaws remain in the new system.

New shipments have raised the ire of the public.

"The Ghena loaded cattle and left Fremantle on 19 September. The Ocean Drover was due to begin loading sheep on Friday. The State Government couldn't confirm their destinations in answer to my question in Parliament on Thursday. That's been a big part of the whole problem of this nasty business. No one can say where they'll end up. No one can say how long they'll suffer on board.

"The State Government needs to put in place transition for the industry. Live export is on the way out. Farmers and their families shouldn't be financially worse off. WA actually has a surplus of abattoir capacity. Let's keep the value adding of processing meat here. If there's going to be some negative economic impacts over the mid-term, as the Government claims, let's put in place industry support to get over that. After that, everyone benefits. It's a no-brainer.

"An industry based on frozen meat export can handle the vagaries of the international political climate. If a country changes its mind about receiving goods, despite memorandums of understanding in place, no animal suffers on a ship, no loss is incurred through disease and death.


For comment:
Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
Mobile 0403 721 951

For information:
Shane Guthrie, Media Liaison Officer
Mobile 0428 207 007


Shane Guthrie
Electorate and Research Officer
Office of Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia
Unit 7, 142 South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel +61 8 9430 7233   Fax +61 8 9430 7207
Shane.Guthrie at mp.wa.gov.au   www.LynnMacLaren.org.au