A vessel at the centre of a controversy over Australia’s live export trade has reportedly been delayed from sailing for the Middle East.
The Awassi Express (built 1990) was due to move 57,000 sheep to the Middle East on Monday but the Federal government imposed a series of conditions that have delayed the departure, reports Australia’s Farm Weekly.
These improved conditions are said to include reducing the number of sheep on board by 17.5% and improving ventilation.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) said it had taken immediate action to add an independent department veterinarian to the Awassi Express voyage to the Middle East when the journey does get underway.
The vet will monitor and record the health and welfare of all animals on board, send back daily reports and images and will also be able to issue directions on the vessel to ensure the welfare of the sheep.
Australia’s live export trade came in for harsh criticism last week following the deaths of 2,400 sheep on an Australian ship bound for the Middle East.
Secret footage of conditions on board the Awassi Express – released last week by a whistleblower – has thrown the live-export industry into crisis and focused attention on a global trade worth $19bn.
Australia is one of the world’s biggest live animal exporters, sending almost 2m sheep and 1m cattle to Asia and the Middle East in 2017.
The industry claims it has implemented the world’s best standards of animal welfare during transit and in overseas slaughterhouses.
The Awassi Express was converted from a 2,300-teu containership in 2010 at a shipyard in Indonesia in a project that reportedly cost $60m.
On Friday Australia’s Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud announced a new whistleblower hotline for the live export industry.
He said the hotline would enable people to confidentially report breaches or suspected breaches in the export industry, including livestock exports.
“I want to create a culture where whistleblowers are comfortable coming forward and confident their information will be treated confidentially and taken seriously,” he said.
Minister Littleproud also announced a review of the independent regulator, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and a short, sharp review of the standards for the sheep trade during the Middle Eastern summer.
The Minister said he also intends to work with Australia’s opposition to increase penalties for those doing the wrong thing which will build on reforms currently before the Parliament within the Export Control Bill 2017.
