WA Premier Mark McGowan says state law may be used in the future to stop livestock carriers from leaving if they breach animal welfare standards.

MV Awassi Express remains at Fremantle Port as it undergoes improvements to meet Australian airflow standards, after 2400 sheep died from extreme heat during a voyage to the Middle East in August 2017.

MV Maysora departed for Turkey last week with 77,000 sheep and 9500 cattle on board amid ongoing concerns about the industry.

Mr McGowan said he was willing to look at the legal options available under the Animal Welfare Act if there were breaches of Australian standards in the future.

"I'd be open to it if we got the right legal advice and we knew these ships were engaged in some appalling conduct," he told reporters on Sunday. </s> Livestock ships could be blocked under state law, says WA Premier

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has threatened to ramp up action against the live animal export trade, saying he is open to using state law to block livestock carriers breaching animal welfare standards from leaving the state's ports.

The industry is already in defensive mode after footage emerged showing some of the almost 2,400 sheep who died of heat stress aboard the Awassi Express in the Middle East in August last year.

That ship is currently still blocked in Fremantle port as it undergoes upgrades to its ventilation system to meet requirements by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But on Wednesday another ship, the MV Maysora, left the same port for Turkey despite concerns by inspectors from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

They reported to WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan they had seen sheep on board being crushed and some water troughs were emptied or full of faeces, before even leaving for its destination in Turkey.

Mr McGowan said the State Government could take action if there were breaches of the WA Animal Welfare Act.

"So we're not saying close the industry down, but what we are saying at this point is if there are examples like we saw recently, well then we'll use state law if we can to try and arrest and fix the problem we're facing."

The Department of Agriculture said it received reports about MV Maysora from WA inspectors on Friday.

In a statement, a spokesperson said all issues raised had been investigated by an Australian Accredited Veterinarian, an accredited stockman and an independent vet, who were on board the vessel.

"The department has confirmed that the health and welfare of animals on board is being maintained in accordance with the required Australian standards."



Ms MacTiernan called for a ban on live exports in the northern hemisphere summer, when most livestock deaths occur.

Mr McGowan said the industry was in trouble. </s> Livestock ships could be blocked under state law, says WA Premier

Updated

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has threatened to ramp up action against the live animal export trade, saying he is open to using state law to block livestock carriers breaching animal welfare standards from leaving the state's ports.

The industry is already in defensive mode after footage emerged showing some of the almost 2,400 sheep who died of heat stress aboard the Awassi Express in the Middle East in August last year.

That ship is currently still blocked in Fremantle port as it undergoes upgrades to its ventilation system to meet requirements by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But on Wednesday another ship, the MV Maysora, left the same port for Turkey despite concerns by inspectors from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

They reported to WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan they had seen sheep on board being crushed and some water troughs were emptied or full of faeces, before even leaving for its destination in Turkey.

Livestock Shipping Services has comprehensively rejected any suggestion conditions were inadequate for the sheep in its consignment on the Maysora.

Managing director Ahmad Ghosheh said he was on board when WA inspectors examined the ship and their questions "were answered to the apparent satisfaction of the inspectors in the context of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock" (ASEL).

"For example, where it was noted that some water troughs in newly loaded pens were empty, it was explained that ASEL requires that water must be provided to sheep within 12 hours of loading," Mr Ghosheh said.

"Similarly, when faeces were observed in some water troughs, it was explained that troughs are regularly cleaned by the 35 livestock crew members in accordance with regulatory requirements.

But Mr McGowan said the State Government could take action if there were breaches of the WA Animal Welfare Act.

"I'd be open to it if we got the right legal advice," he said.

"So we're not saying close the industry down, but what we are saying at this point is if there are examples like we saw recently, well then we'll use state law if we can to try and arrest and fix the problem we're facing."

The Department of Agriculture said it received reports about MV Maysora from WA inspectors on Friday.

In a statement, a spokesperson said all issues raised had been investigated by an Australian Accredited Veterinarian, an accredited stockman and an independent vet, who were on board the vessel.

"The majority of issues identified by WA inspectors were witnessed at the time a large volume of animals were being loaded onto the vessel for departure and do not reflect the conditions maintained on the voyage," the statement read.

"The department has confirmed that the health and welfare of animals on board is being maintained in accordance with the required Australian standards."



Ms MacTiernan called for a ban on live exports in the northern hemisphere summer, when most livestock deaths occur.

Mr McGowan said the industry was in trouble.

Topics: government-and-politics, trade, livestock-welfare, wa

First posted </s> The live export industry has been accused of spreading "false information" about a shipment after WA government inspectors noted troubling conditions before it left Fremantle.

After the Maysora departed last week it emerged inspectors from the Department of Primary Industries - who had to secure a warrant to get on board - saw cramped conditions, empty water troughs and other troughs contaminated with faeces.

WAFarmers President Tony York on Monday condemned the state inspectors, saying they should have acted "on any concerns they had before the ship slipped anchor".

But Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan says there were questions as to whether the ship could be prevented from departing under state animal welfare laws.

"The findings of the inspection report from the Maysora remain a serious cause for concern," she said.

"We await a formal response from the federal government to these concerns."

She also said the operator Livestock Shipping Services had falsely claimed no attempt was made to stop inspectors boarding the Maysora.

"Consent was not granted," she said.

Mr York said the vessel met all government regulations and standards.

"It is not unusual for stock to contaminate water troughs, even moments after they are cleaned, and for stock to be without feed for short periods of time while settling into new surroundings and pens," he said.

Meanwhile, the ship that sparked calls for a ban of live exports to the Middle East during their summer months, Emanuel Exports' Awassi Express, remains docked in Fremantle.

It has not yet met ventilation conditions imposed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after footage of 2400 sheep dying in filth and struggling to breathe in extreme heat was broadcast. </s> Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has launched an extraordinary review of his department after shocking revelations of cruelty to sheep revived calls for Australia's live export trade to end.

The industry is under pressure after whistleblower video footage emerged showing dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat in August 2017.

Mr Littleproud announced an audit of the Agriculture Department's capability, powers and culture, saying the independent regulator needed the right tools to ensure exporters do the right thing.

He said the department's report into last year's voyage had not matched the footage exposing cruelty onboard the ship where about 2400 sheep died after leaving from Fremantle.

"That is quite disappointing to me. I have some real difficulty around that," he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

The Emanuel Exports ship will have to satisfy authorities it's made improvements before it is allowed to set sail on its next trip to the Middle East after concerns about the airflow in sheep pens.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspectors visited the MV Awassi Express on Sunday and were concerned about the airflow over some pens.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party airflow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.

Mr Littleproud praised the person who exposed the cruelty and said a new whistleblower hotline would be established by the end of the week.

He also foreshadowed bigger fines and possible jail time for company directors, in addition to measure in a bill before parliament which doubles existing penalties.

"I'm horrified and shocked by what I saw and I know every Australian is horrified by those images of cruelty to sheep," Mr Littleproud said.

But he resisted calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, saying that would punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.

Animals Australia and the RSPCA are adamant the industry should be shut down.

"There is every reason to believe that what we saw on those five voyages last night is typical of what occurs on every voyage that takes place from Australia's shores," RSPCA chairman Gary Humphries told reporters in Canberra.

About 200 protesters gathered outside the West Perth offices of Emanuel Exports on Monday, chanting "save our sheep" and "get the sheep off the ships".

Western Australia's Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan called for a summer ban on livestock exports and older live export ships to be phased out.

The Agriculture Department says it will add an independent department veterinarian to the upcoming voyage to the Middle East.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says he is willing to use state law to block livestock export ships on animal welfare grounds. The move comes as MV Awassi Express is detained in Fremantle undergoing ventilation upgrades mandated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after video emerged of 2,400 sheep dying on board during a voyage last August. MV Maysora left the port last week despite inspectors reporting water troughs that were empty or filled with faeces.