Live Animal Exports

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Senator Derryn Hinch (Vic). Motions like these don't make any legal changes by themselves but can be politically influential since they represent the will of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the recent suspension of Emanuel Exports export licence by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, which is an appropriate response to the company's alleged breach of its animal welfare obligations, and

(ii) that, while it is the responsibility of each exporter to ensure it meets these obligations, remedial action should not unnecessarily punish producers; and

(b) calls on the government to:

(i) ensure that the West Australian farmers contracted to Emanuel Exports are compensated during the investigation process,

(ii) in the event Emanuel Exports is found to have breached its animal welfare obligations, urge the company to compensate farmers for their economic loss,

(iii) support the development of abattoirs throughout Australia, and

(iv) provide certainty for the future of Australian sheep producers by legislating for an orderly phase-out of the sheep live export trade.