EFFORTS to re-open investigation of the sourcing of video footage of suffering sheep on the live export vessel the Awassi Express  in 2017 continued in the House Standing Committee on Agriculture inquiry into the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 at Northam in Western Australia last week.

Whistleblower footage taken on the Awassi Express in 2017, when 2400 sheep perished on board in the Persian Gulf, prompted industry reform and regulation, and has been a major plank in the activist and Federal Government campaign against live sheep exports.

WAFarmers president John Hassell said he was disturbed to hear that his tabled inquiry submission with attachments might not be accepted by the committee.

He said he had attached to his submission some statutory declarations from Awassi Express ship board staff.

“I think that is a gross misrepresentation of me if that is not accepted, because it (the submission) was not a pro forma, it was altered quite significantly.”

Mr Hassell said the Kuwaitis and WA farmers are not happy about the decision to phaseout live sheep export by sea.

“But my main comments are going to be around the statutory declarations by Lyn White of Animals Australia and a shipboard staff member who actually testified to the fact that the conditions that were created on the Awassi Express were done deliberately and paid for by Animals Australia.

“And I think that is the basis of this entire legislation and that’s why it is so badly wrong,” he said.

“I think the questions need to be asked as to why did the department drop the case against Emanuels, which they did for good reason, but not then go after Animals Australia for animal cruelty, for bribing shipboard staff, for corporate sabotage and for that kind of dishonesty?

“Why wasn’t that investigated, why was that dropped by the Department of Agriculture and why Department of Agriculture activists allowed to get away with biasing this entire discussion based on this evidence?” Mr Hassell asked.

“Why are they allowed to get away with biasing this entire debate and doing damage to an Australian industry based on lies and deception created by Animals Australia and RSPCA staff?”

Responding to a question by committee vice-chair and WA Liberal MP Rick Wilson, Mr Hassell said in case his submission and its attachment “was going to be knocked back, I, thank you Mr Wilson, I am going to be tabling that information.”

In a later discussion about the increase in cropping over sheep production in Western Australia, Mr Hassell said it was not right for a government to change an industry’s economic imperative.

“Because that’s when it fails, that’s when it hits our hip pocket.

“If we can make our changes based on our own businesses, borrow the money and make the changes that’s fine, but when a government comes in and tells us to change our businesses, with no consideration for the devastating impact it will have on our businesses, and on the communities in which we live, that is a wrong decision,” Mr Hassell said.

“Especially when it’s based on the Awassi evidence which shows very clearly that that was perpetuated by Animals Australia’s deliberate action and especially when it is a dirty filthy little backroom deal with the Animal Justice Party.”

Mr Wilson and Mr Hassell have previously supported further investigation of the circumstances behind the Awassi Express incident believing it could potentially undermine the justification for the Federal Government’s intended phaseout of live sheep exports by sea. A Federal investigation in 2019 found no evidence whistleblowers fabricated footage of sheep dying under heat stress on a vessel bound for the Middle East and a Department of Agriculture investigation found the footage was not contrived and no illegal payments were made. Animals Australia has also claimed no wrongdoing in obtaining Awassi Express footage.

Mr Wilson has also tabled at the inquiry 52 questions on notice for the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. Click here for Mr Hassell’s submission to the inquiry.

The inquiry hearing today heard a number of statements from representatives from several farming, rural transport, shearing, stud Merino breeders, grains and farm advisory groups who declared their support for the live export of sheep by sea, detailing the expected negative impact of the phaseout policy on rural communities and service, flock numbers and wool production.

Several WA community members gave statements at the inquiry hearing supporting the proposed phaseout and the inquiry continued this afternoon to hear evidence from livestock and meat exporters, WA councils, RSPCA WA and the Stop Live Exports group.

People power mobilises at Muresk

Speaking from the Keep The Sheep rally in Muresk last week, Keep the Sheep campaign spokesperson, Ben Sutherland said it sent a strong message back to Canberra that there were thousands of supporters and that the Albanese Government’s policy to ban live sheep exports was a losing one.

“We’ve seen another 2-3000 people travel, in some circumstances thousands of kilometres, take a day off work, out of school and away from their lives because they feel so strongly that we had to send a message that this ban will affect people’s lives and livelihoods.

“Australians believe in a fair go,” he said.

“Sweeping in from Canberra with a policy that puts people out of business that is based on a ‘vibe’ from activists that discounts fact is unfair and un-Australian.”

Mr Sutherland said Keep Sheep supporters are very worried the inquiry committee is rushing towards a stitched up political outcome.

“The Canberra hearing demonstrated the bias the committee has already showed.

“It is frustrating to have MPs that aren’t from WA thinking they know what’s best for us.”

The House Standing Committee on Agriculture is inquiring into the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 that will end the live sheep export trade by sea from 1 May 2028. The committee also held a public hearing in Canberra this week and has been asked to produce an advisory report by 21 June 2024.