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Sheep trade in danger: review
8 Jan 2004
Dr John Keniry, author of the review of last year's Cormo Express debacle, said yesterday that public opinion will turn against the live export trade and force its closure unless standards are improved. Dr Keniry, a NSW grazier and businessman, said self-regulation and voluntary levies had allowed resistance to change, but if improvements aren't made the live sheep trade, worth $1 billion, and the northern Australian live cattle trade are under threat. Dr Keniry said there were legitimate public interest animal welfare issues and the Government must be seen to be setting standards and policing them.
Acting Prime Minister John Anderson, architect of the self-regulatory system, said he was disappointed to hear of abuses of the system and the report shows it's not working "as well as it should".
But Mike Norton, WA Farmers' meat spokesman, said the Cattle Council had told the Government years ago of a conflict of interest in the co-regulatory system and suggested that AQIS be put in charge. It's not a health or trade issue, he said, but a community issue.
The West Australian, 8/1/04.
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