‘Ships of shame’ won’t be banned

THE Turnbull Government is refusing to ban live exports, despite a call from a former cabinet minister to phase out the under-fire trade.

NSW Liberal MP Sussan Ley broke ranks with the Government after shocking footage emerged showing sheep dying in horrific conditions on a ship to the Middle East last August.

“Time to pick a date by which all live sheep exports must end,” the former health minister said on Twitter.

“We can work with industry and farmers to make this happen.”

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, however, said that was not going to happen.

“The Coalition Government condemns cruelty to animals and takes animal welfare very seriously, but a ban on the whole industry would only punish those exporters and farmers who have done no wrong,” a spokeswoman for Mr Littleproud said yesterday.

The industry is under pressure from animal welfare groups after 2400 sheep died on an Emanuel Exports voyage to the Middle East.

“Enough is enough with these ships of shame. Saying other countries would be worse is a lazy non-argument,” Ms Ley said.

Mr Littleproud has announced a veterinarian-led review into exporting livestock during the northern-hemisphere summer.

He’s also commissioned an audit of his own department, but resisted calls for a ban on the trade during the northern summer.

Animals Australia’s Lyn White said while Mr Littleproud’s strong statements were pleasing, it was disappointing the minister had preempted the review’s outcome by ruling out an export ban in the summer.

“Over recent days, Minister Littleproud has consistently

A BAN ON THE WHOLE INDUSTRY WOULD PUNISH THOSE EXPORTERS AND FARMERS WHO HAVE DONE NO WRONG

said that these decisions are the domain of the regulator but by pre-empting the outcome of this review, he has effectively taken this decision away from the regulator,” Ms White said.

Meanwhile, the ship at the centre of the controversy, the Awassi Express, remains in Fremantle, where it is waiting for approval from authorities before embarking on its next export trip.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is awaiting confirmation from Emanuel Exports that its ventilation systems have passed third-party testing before the ship will be allowed to set sail.

DAVID LITTLEPROUD