|
|
|
Secret deal gives sheep to Baghdad
26 Sep 2003
Australian livestock exporters will buy back the 53,000 sheep stranded in Persian Gulf and give them to Iraq for slaughter at Ramadan, under a secret deal being brokered by the Federal Government. The Iraq deal is being negotiated by a special crisis committee led by Peter Shergold, secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The deal will cost the industry up to $10 million and may mean a new levy on live exports which could be passed on to consumers of Australian meat.
The Australian Government does not want to pay for the sheep, currently the property of a Saudi buyer, as it doesn't want to establish a precedent that would allow the Saudis to hold Australia to ransom in future.
The deal came as animal rights protesters in Portland stalled, for the second day, the loading of 28,000 sheep headed for Kuwait.
RSPCA president Hugh Wirth also said his organisation is considering withdrawing co-operation with the Government over live animal exports because of its handling of the sheep on the Cormo Express.
The Age, 26/9/03.
|
|
