Some of the animals on board the controversy-plagued live export ship MV Bahijah will be offloaded in Western Australia and the rest sent back to the Middle East, under a plan put forward by the export company.
The federal Department of Agriculture ordered the livestock vessel to return to Australia earlier this month, after it diverted off its course to the Middle East due to security concerns in the Red Sea.
It is understood there are more than 15,000 animals on board, primarily sheep.
Eleven days after it was ordered back to Australia, it remains anchored off the coast of Perth amid an apparent stalemate between the exporter and the department, prompting frustration from both animal advocates and the agricultural industry.
In a statement, the department said the exporter had this morning provided “supporting information” to its application to unload some animals in Australia before re-exporting the remaining animals to the Middle East.
“The department is assessing this application as a priority, including working closely with our trading partners to ensure any decision to re-export the animals would be supported by the intended market,” the statement said.
“These are high-quality Australian animals; however, they would be subject to strict biosecurity controls while in Australia.
“Ultimately, all plans are commercial decisions for the exporter that must be assessed by the department as the regulator.”
Animals being assessed amid heatwave
Heatwave conditions in Perth this week have increased concerns for the animals’ welfare, with temperatures in the city forecast to hit 39 degrees Celsius today.
The department said the exporter’s registered veterinarian was carrying out daily assessments of the animals.
“All reports to date indicate that there are no signs of any significant health or welfare concerns with the livestock on board,” the statement said.
“The department is currently assessing the feasibility of an additional independent veterinarian attending the vessel to provide further assurance.”
Both the live export industry and animal welfare bodies have been frustrated at the department’s lack of action
Department under scrutiny
WAFarmers and RSPCA WA have questioned why no plan has been enacted after the department ordered the ship to turn around.
Speaking before the department’s latest comments, WAFarmers livestock section president Geoff Pearson said the ventilation for the livestock was better out in open water, compared to if it berthed, but questioned why it was stuck in limbo to begin with.
“The Department [of Agriculture] decided to turn it around … that voyage has taken 10 days to come back,” he said.
“Yet nothing has been done or no decision has been made on … what the future of the livestock and the shipment is.
“[It’s up to the department] to make the decision of whether the livestock are re-exported, or they get unloaded.”
In recent days the department declined to answer questions about why it has taken so long to reach an agreement with the exporter.
The ABC has asked if any animals on board the ship have died and what steps are being taken to keep them cool during the heatwave.
The ABC also asked the department to provide vision of the inside of the ship and the animals.
The department issued a short response in reply to the questions.
“It is not appropriate for the department to comment publicly on these assessments until they are completed,” it said.
‘No coherent plan’
RSPCA WA chief executive Ben Cave said there had been little transparency from the government about the situation.
“We’ve been asking state government, federal government, what the plan is — it appears at the moment there is no coherent plan,” he said.
“We’re asking for independent observers, vets, to get on to the vessel and see the welfare of the animals.”
Fremantle Labor MP Josh Wilson has diverted blame back to the live animal export industry itself.
“This is a trade that over, and over, and over again has produced animal welfare atrocities,” he said.
“I think it would be pretty rich for anyone to suggest that that’s on the regulator. The regulator is now trying to manage a crisis.”
WAFarmers said the industry preference would be for the ship to redeploy on another voyage through a safe route, citing biosecurity concerns if the animals were offloaded in Australia.
RSPCA WA rebuked those concerns and said the livestock should be taken off the ship as soon as possible.
“These Australian animals were loaded in Australia and haven’t left the ship since,” Mr Cave said.
“Any animals of concern can be quarantined and dealt with appropriately.”
The ABC has been unable to contact the exporter — Israeli-based Bassem Dabbah — which operates through an Australian holding company.
Posted , updated
