LIVE EXPORT — MIDDLE EAST TRADE RELATIONS
470. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the
Premier's response to question without notice 449 asked on Wednesday,
13 June, which indicates that the minister has engaged with trading partners
and governments in the Middle East on alternatives to live export.
(1) Which trading
partners and governments has the minister met with?
(2) Please detail
when these discussions occurred and in what locations.
(3) What was the
nature and outcome of these discussions?
(4) Please table
any documents related to these discussions.
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member
for the question.
(1)–(4)
First up, I can say that our office has been
in regular contact with the WA trade office in the Middle East; indeed, it has
been in contact with the respective governments. Further, early in May 2018, I met
with Mr Osama Khaled Boodai and Mr Ahmad Al Majed from Kuwait Livestock
Transport and Trading. On 8 May 2018, I had a teleconference with His
Excellency Nasser bin Hamad Mubarak Al-Khalifa, the ambassador from the state
of Qatar, and that was followed by an exchange of letters. These discussions
obviously centred on live sheep export and animal welfare concerns, including
the extreme risks to livestock during voyages occurring in the Middle Eastern
high summer months of July, August and September. We discussed the McGowan
government's call for additional controls during this high-risk period
in order to protect the future of the industry. Indeed, I note the
recommendation by Mr McCarthy but, unfortunately, the implementation of that
recommendation was delayed. The discussions also stressed the value that the Western
Australian government places on Qatar and Kuwait as long-term trading partners.
The outcome included an agreement to continue dialogue and find alternative
workable solutions, such as the export of chilled and frozen meat through land
and sea options.
I
table that correspondence.
[See paper 1434.]