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Taxpayers will carry sheep cost for years
28 Oct 2003
On October 26, 2003, the Federal Government announced an inquiry to examine all facets of the live animal export trade. It will be chaired by former president of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr John Keniry, with an expert panel.
Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, said the Government is focused on ensuring the Cormo Express incident is never repeated.
By the late afternoon of October 26, just 14,000 of the 52,000 sheep had been unloaded at Massawa in Eritrea. When 57,000 sheep left Fremantle on board the MV Cormo Express in August they were worth about $79 a head, or $4.5 million for the shipment to a Saudi importer.
After more than 70 days at sea they have landed at a cost to Australian taxpayers of $192 a head, or more than $10 million for the 52,000 animals left alive. More than 5,500 died during the voyage.
The $10 million figure quoted by Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, includes $4.5 million to buy the sheep, $2 million to keep them on the ship and a $1 million support package to the Eritrean Government. There is also about $1 million for 3,000 tonnes of fodder plus the costs of the officials searching for a solution.
The final cost could be significantly higher than $10 million.
The Courier-Mail, 27/10/03, page 8.
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