Locking horns over sheep ships

WESTERN Australia’s livestock industry has locked horns with the state’s agriculture minister, accusing her of “whipping up” the furore over sheep exports.

There have been calls for an end to the trade since footage of 2400 sheep dying in filth and struggling to breathe in extreme heat on board Emanuel Exports’ Awassi Express was broadcast this month.

WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan is trying to use the full extent of state animal welfare laws to enforce standards on livestock ships. She also wants a ban on live exports to the Middle East during their summer, or for vessels to be airconditioned.

But Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook says she has a policy to abolish the industry and is “whipping up” a furore.

“It would be so much more helpful if she’d just step up quietly to work with us … rather than just emotively spouting forth in the press,” Mr Seabrook said yesterday.

Ms MacTiernan said she wasn’t the problem.

“The problem is the live exporters and the Federal Government who have not put in place adequate standards or enforced the standards.”

Workers tending to feed troughs aboard the MV Merino Express livestock export ship, at the Port of Fremantle, a different ship to the Awassi Express, which has now been cleared to leave Fremantle port after completing ventilation improvements.