Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Deputy Prime Minister, following the shocking deaths of thousands of sheep aboard the Awassi Express in 2017, some weak reforms to the live animal export industry were announced. It now turns out that despite most Australians still opposing this cruel trade, even the flimsy reforms have been quietly dumped. Deputy Prime Minister, this week why did you ignore the advice of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and approve a live animal export ship failing ventilation requirements? And how can the community ever believe that the government cares about animal welfare when even the half-baked safeguards we do have are ignored on a ministerial whim?

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