LIVE EXPORTS IN AUSTRALIA
Monday, 7 January 2019
The Australian Government takes the welfare of all animals very seriously and understands its importance to the Australian community.
Livestock export can be a very emotive subject, the truth of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of livestock export voyages are undertaken without incident.
Animal cruelty in any circumstance is unacceptable and Australia has the strictest system in the world to ensure our exported livestock are treated as humanely as possible.
Publically available data indicates that well over 99 percent of livestock exported from Australia arrive at their destination successfully.
Furthermore, the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) ensures exporters have arrangements in place for Australian livestock to be handled and slaughtered in overseas markets in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health standards.
Since its inception, ESCAS has underpinned the export of over two million animals annually and less than one percent have not been handled in line with our strict standards.
To view the publically available statistics for the live export trade, including investigations into non-compliance with our strict standards visit agriculture.gov.au/lae.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment consults extensively to draw on a large cross section of the best available science and evidence to inform decisions relating to the live export trade.
Many rural and regional communities in Australia rely on the live export trade to provide valuable income and employment to their region and withdrawal from the trade would remove this viable option.
Recently I travelled to Western Australia to see the industry for myself, I have documented my findings below.
Live Export Insight
Live Exports in Western Australia
