Kuwait footage: response from industry

Australia’s livestock industry has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Australian Government, foreign governments and commercial partners to deliver animal welfare improvements in our export markets.
These partnerships have made considerable investment and improvement to animal welfare, however we recognise the need for further reform.
The Industry-Government Working Group on Live Exports and the Federal Government’s Independent Review into Australia’s Livestock Export Trade will focus on how these further reforms are delivered.
The Industry-Government Working Group on Live Exports commenced on 10 June 2011 and as part of its mandate will deliver a Government/industry framework and guidelines for auditing standards in our overseas markets against international animal welfare standards.
This Group has a specific Taskforce to scrutinise and audit Australia’s live export markets and supply chains to all markets, and will be meeting to progress this.
The Federal Government’s Independent Review into Australia’s Livestock Export Trade was announced on 13 June 2011 and will examine the live animal export supply chain from paddock to the point of processing for all markets that receive Australian livestock.
There are two clear objectives for this review – to ensure a system that provides appropriate welfare outcomes for Australian livestock and to provide the basis for a sustainable live export industry over the long term.
This reform will contribute to the design and application of new safeguards for animal welfare.
Australia is the only country in the world that invests in improving animal welfare in overseas markets.
Released by: Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, LiveCorp, Cattle Council of Australia, National Farmers’ Federation, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia.