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Vaile steps in to sheep trade crisis
16 Oct 2003
The Federal Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, will effectively take over the live animal export industry crisis by visiting the Middle East early in 2004 to restore trading relationships. Until now, the industry and the saga involving the 52,000 stranded sheep aboard the MV Cormo Express have been handled by the Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss. Mr Vaile said he'd be visiting the region and particularly the countries that are key live sheep customers, "to help allay any concerns and reassure them".
The Cormo Express still has not left Kuwait and the Government is now offering the sheep to any country in Africa or Asia that will take them as food aid, in a last-ditch attempt to offload them. So far, there have been no takers.
Opposition to the sheep returning to the Australian mainland is mounting, due to fears of threats to quarantine safety.
The Australian, 16/10/03, page 2.
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