Following the IGLAE report on the Independent Observer Report, there have been renewed calls for having an independent veterinarian on every ship. VALE has long called for this. AVA have long called for it (albeit recently modified their policy to just having a vet on every ship, not necessarily independent - good lobbying by industry!). The RSPCA has called for it.
The Inspector General has reported that there are deficiencies in the independent observer program and that a post-implementation review into the independent observer program found that "reports from onboard Australian Government accredited veterinarians (AAVs) and stockpersons often lacked sufficient detail for the department to make informed regulatory decisions (DAWE and AMSA 2020)." Yup....and thats why we need an INDEPENDENT veterinarian on every ship.
See article in the Weekly Times: Push for vets on every live export voyage grows after sheep deaths

Its an extraordinary story from Newsroom.
With the NZ Government on track to phaseout and end live export of dairy cattle, the exporters were working hard with the Ministry of Primary Industry to develop gold standards for continued exporting.
Damien O’Connor, who was Minister for Agriculture at the time has told Newsroom he would never have signed off on the work, and was not told by officials it was being done.  “Obviously, if I had knowledge of that, I would not have endorsed it, given that the trade was about to finish.” A live exports working group was set up following the 2020 sinking of Gulf Livestock 1. A report by Mike Heron QC recommended this group needed representatives from the industry and the ministry, as well as Maritime NZ, and animal welfare experts and advocates. Shortly after this, the government confirmed a total ban on the trade. The group was then tasked with overseeing the two-year transition period, particularly making sure recommendations from the Heron report were being worked toward. BUT despite the Heron recommendation, members were industry representatives, the food assurance company AsureQuality, and ministry officials - the group included no animal welfare experts and advocates.
The FOI process in NZ is actually functional. With the Dept of Ag resisting any FOI about live export, such information would never come to light in Australia.

Why? Insufficient voyages have IOs deployed with the most common reason being exporters signing statutory declarations that they cant accommodate an IO. The IGLAE clearly has his doubts!

Why are they still necessary? Contrary to the assertions by industry, a post-implementation review into the independent observer program found that "reports from onboard Australian Government accredited veterinarians (AAVs) and stockpersons often lacked sufficient detail for the department to make informed regulatory decisions (DAWE and AMSA 2020)."

Conclusion: "the IO program does not appear to provide acceptable levels of assurance regarding the health and welfare of livestock across all markets.”

See IGLAE Report
See VALE Summary

 Sheep Central reported that ALEC regrettably advises that a small air freight consignment of breeder sheep to Jakarta experienced a mortality event of approximately 80 sheep on the evening of 17 August.
The sheep were apparently Dorpers and no explanation has yet been provided. No doubt, with the usual transparency involved, we will never be informed of their cause of death...or if the cause is identified, the Dept will gloss over it as they have done previously with high mortality flights eg finding crates adequate despite all evidence to the contrary.
And....have we heard anything more about the high mortality voyage to Indonesia and the purported incorrect Masters Report? Not a cracker....still up on DAFFs website as botulism despite coccidiosis being confirmed.

The ABC reports that a consignment of 4,000 cattle due to be shipped to Israel has been waiting a month for approval from Australia's live export regulator to depart Fremantle. Earlier this year, the vessel en route to Israel was  sent back to Fremantle due to the high risk of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. After much wrangling, it was then re-loaded and sent to Israel around the Cape of Good Hope. This planned extra long-haul route was also intended for this cattle shipment, some of which had also done the aborted voyage.

But Houthis have now been targeting livestock vessels in the Mediterranean. So, the MV Bahijah remains at anchor off the WA coast, unable to begin the 33-day journey. And of course the farmers revert to their usual claims of protein deprivation at end destination despite Israel being wealthy enough to fly or ship in chilled/frozen meat should they so desire it!

Hopefully common sense will prevail and the Department will stop all live shipments to Israel for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the ship bobs around in lousy weather off Fremantle, probably at great expense.

UPDATE: the Bahijah left Fremantle unloaded on 2.8.2024

The Australian Dairy Farmer Jul-Aug 2024 reports that the China dairy heifer market  has slumped with prices for Australian Export heifers crashing as export demand dries up. Apparently stock have been sitting in quarantine with no market to be found. Bad for the exporters and the farmers but a lucky reprieve for the heifers. Voyages to China average about 21 days and there is no requirement for a veterinarian onboard. If the cattle do survive the voyage, the unloading and subsequent transport, conditions in China for Australian dairy cattle have been reported by insider veterinarians to be unacceptable.
This is the time for Australia to reconsider its involvement with this trade and farmer reliance on it. It should also be a wake-up call for New Zealand who are trying to restart their trade....to where? The Road to Nowhere?

A veteran of Western Australia's sheep industry says farmers should focus on new markets, not on fighting the live export ban. The ABC reports that farmer Rob Egerton-Warburton says while the fight has been gallant, the ban is now legislated and would take years to overturn, causing more uncertainty. 

Not so different to what long time export industry stalwart Tony Brightling also said.

Farmers pretty much have two choices now.....continue with their hysteria alienating much of the Australian public (who traditionally support farmers) and getting nothing but uncertainty or putting their heads down, working constructively with Government to maximise transition money and spending on the processing sector and new market openings.

See: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-07-03/sheep-industry-looks-to-new-pastures-after-live-export-ban/104049514

Legislation to bring the live sheep export industry to an end has just been passed in the Senate. Four more years of suffering for West Australian sheep but then no more.

VALE wishes to thank Senator Watt, who stood so firm in the face of relentless attacks, the ALP, the Independent Panel for their tireless work that showed that a supported transition was feasible, all those politicians who bravely voted for the motion (Senators Tyrrell and Pocock particularly) and all the individuals and organisations who worked so hard and for so long to make this day even possible. And thank you to Fazal Ullah, a Pakistani seamen, who courageously showed the world what was happening on Australian live export ships at a time when we were being told that Australia had the world's best export standards.



 

In an opinion piece to Beef Central, Dr Tony Brightling, a vet, exporter and long time industry stalwart has revealed that the sheep live ex trade will end on economic grounds regardless of the ban and that industry and farmers should just take what they can rather than fighting a battle they will lose regardless of ban. Better be constructive than destructive is the advice.
Coming from anyone else, this opinion piece would no doubt be rubbished or rejected. But it is hard to reject when it comes from someone of Dr Brightling's stature in this industry and his extensive knowledge of the trade.
Hopefully, Senators read the article before they debate the fate of this already dying trade.

After three days of debate, the Bill to end live sheep export today passed a vote in the House of Representatives. The National Party introduced a Motion in the Senate this evening in a bid to instigate another Inquiry into the Bill which would have stopped it progressing any further for months. Fortunately, key crossbenchers saw through this delaying tactic and it was voted down. Next week it goes to the Senate. So...first step complete but job not yet done.

Regardless, it is worth celebrating this historic vote in Australia's parliament that recognised the importance of animal welfare and sentience.