New Framework - Sustainable Future of Live Exports

NFF President Jock Laurie said the Government has made a joint commitment with the Australian livestock industry to improve animal welfare standards in overseas markets, securing the long-term sustainability of the trade.

“The Government has shown its commitment to working with industry to improve standards and support an industry that is incredibly important to northern Australia,” Mr Laurie said.

“The farmers and families who rely on the live export trade for their livelihoods – cattle and sheep producers, truck drivers, contractors, small businesses and many Indigenous Australians – have today been assured that this industry will continue.

“The Independent Review of Australia’s Livestock Export Trade, conducted by Bill Farmer, has made some key recommendations for how the trade can be improved in Australia, and the livestock industry is committed to continuing to work with the Government to address and enact these.

“The new regulatory framework, which has already been implemented in Indonesia, will now be rolled out across all other live export markets. The livestock industry has committed to implementing this within the agreed timeframe, in cooperation with the Australian Government and commercial supply chains.

“The industry has, in fact, already started this, working in other overseas markets to ensure that the framework will be rolled out by the end of 2012,” Mr Laurie said.

“We are pleased to note that the recommendations from the Farmer Review align closely with the recommendations made by the Industry Government Working Groups on live export – which shows that both the live sheep and cattle export industries are determined to actively drive the reforms.

“We have stressed before, and we will continue to stress that animal welfare is of utmost priority to Australia’s livestock industry. Australian farmers do not condone animal cruelty: it simply has no place in our farming systems.

“That is why we strongly support the recommendations from the Review that supply chains operate at, or above, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines for animal welfare and the independent audit of supply chain operations in overseas markets.

“And, we welcome the Minister’s commitment that in future, entire markets will not have to be closed to address isolated animal welfare issues. This is extremely welcome news for the producers and communities significantly affected by the live export suspension,” Mr Laurie said.