Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. When was the minister, his department or his office—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you! I am not sure if that applause is for me or for the previous speaker, but I will take it!

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It is disorderly! Senator Colbeck, continue with your question.

Senator Sherry interjecting—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take it when I can get it, Senator Sherry—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, just continue with your question.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. When was the minister, his department or his office first provided with images of inhumane cattle slaughter practices in Indonesia?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, like many Australians, was shocked by the footage shown on Four Corners on 30 May. I was also shocked by the opposition's response on this issue too, quite frankly. The government shares the Australian community's concerns about animal welfare and is taking the necessary action to provide for a secure future for the live trade industry. But, as I have already announced, the government has suspended live animal exports to Indonesia until we are satisfied that the appropriate animal welfare standards can be met. I announced on 13 June 2011 that Mr Bill Farmer AO would also conduct an independent review into Australia's live export trade. Mr Farmer, of course, will examine each stage of the supply chain from paddock to the point of slaughter. But I have seen comments from Mr Abbott and Mr Truss on this and they seem to suggest that they would want to take—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. I have given the minister a minute of his two minutes to consider the question, which was very specific, around when he, his department or his office first saw images of these inhumane slaughter practices. It was a very specific question and I would ask you to bring the minister to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order, I do not know how much more relevant you could be in answering that question. Senator Ludwig was absolutely answering—

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, resume your seat. When the noise across the chamber ceases, we will proceed. Senator Conroy, you were responding to the point of order.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig was absolutely answering the question. More importantly, he still has almost a minute—almost half of his available time—to complete his answer. The suggestion that he is not relevant to the question should be dismissed as absolutely spurious.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister does have 56 seconds remaining. I do draw the minister's attention to the question.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Can I work up to my point—

An opposition senator: When?

Shortly. I have seen Mr Truss's and Mr Abbott's suggestions that they would want to take the risk that Australian animals continue to be exposed to the shocking conditions we have seen. The decision to suspend trade was not an easy one, but let us be clear: on the afternoon of 30 May—

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We didn't ask you whether it was easy; we asked you when!

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I see you interjecting. What did you do when you were the minister? Nothing! And, of course, on the afternoon—

Opposition senators interjecting—

If you don't want me to answer the question, I won't.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig and others! Senator Ludwig, resume your seat. Senator Ludwig, continue with your answer.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, the afternoon of 30 May was the day of the Four Corners program. The decision, as I said, was not an easy one to take, but let us be clear: this is a suspension that the government will lift as soon as industry can establish a verifiable system. (Time expired)

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. When did the minister first contact the Indonesian government regarding these practices?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I outline that, in terms of the bilateral relations that we have with Indonesia, we are working closely with the Indonesian government on this issue. Both DFAT and DAFF officials have been in close contact with our Indonesian ambassador in Jakarta, and Indonesian counterparts. The Indonesian government shares our concern that some animals are not being slaughtered in accordance with Indonesia's own animal welfare laws. Both governments acknowledge that no one issue can dominate the relationship. The Indonesian trade minister, Dr Pangestu, stressed in her public comments that Australia's action represents a temporary suspension and that Indonesia was keen to improve practices.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order on relevance. The question could not have been more specific: when did the minister contact the Indonesian government in relation to these practices? There was nothing else. He was not asked about the bilateral relationship or the history. He was asked a narrow and specific question. Either he answers it or he is not being either directly or indirectly relevant.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I draw the minister's attention to the question. You have nine seconds remaining, Minister.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had the opportunity of speaking to my counterpart, Minister Suswono, and I will provide the exact time and date for the chamber. Can I also indicate— (Time expired)

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the minister's recent statement that he has been expressing concerns about this matter since January, why didn't the minister take the opportunity to investigate the matter personally when he was in Indonesia in March?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course this is an area where, unlike the coalition when they are in government, I have been raising it both in January, with the industry, and again at an opportunity in Katherine with the Cattle Council of Australia to talk to the issue of animal welfare outcomes for our trade to continue.

In addition to that, we have continued to say that we understand that the suspension will have an impact on the Australian producers and those involved in the live export trade. We know that this government, unlike the previous government, have continually raised the issue of how we improve animal welfare outcomes for this trade. That information has been continuously conveyed both to industry and to the Indonesians. (Time expired)