Animal Ritual Slaughter

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question on the topic of ritual slaughter.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Under clause 7.12(2) of the Australian standard for the hygienic production and transportation of meat and meat products for human consumption, ritual slaughter is permitted with the proviso that animals are stunned afterwards. Islamic authorities, such as the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, which is the accreditation body for halal food, accept the stunning of animals and have indicated publicly that pre-stunning does not contravene halal requirements.

Ritual slaughter is seen as cruel and inhumane not only by the RSPCA but by organisations across the world. The reason many oppose this is simple: animals can actually remain conscious in extreme cases for up to six minutes, and scientific studies have shown that the time to collapse for one sample of 100 calves averaged 120 seconds.

It is my understanding that currently in South Australia some abattoirs have an exemption for some portions of that standard; however, I would like the minister, when I get to the question, to clarify what the conditions of those exemptions are. I raise the attention of the council to a complaint made in July this year, including footage of abattoirs or slaughterhouses in Snowtown, Murray Bridge and Kapunda, all provided to PIRSA in July this year, that show animals suffering extreme distress and stunning not being used for ritual slaughter.

That complaint and footage has now been forwarded to DEW but remains unaddressed. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is PIRSA doing to address the situation of ritual slaughter being done in compliance with the approved Australian standards in this state?

2. Does the minister have any concerns that a documented complaint, with footage, made in July has not yet been addressed to date, as we near December?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for her question. My advice is that the South Australian government has indeed received footage taken in June 2023 by the project known as the Farm Transparency Project from three separate small domestic meat processors in South Australia. The Farm Transparency Project describe themselves as an animal protection charity. This footage had some media coverage, with concerns raised about the slaughter practices, and one of the establishments, a small meat processor, performs halal ritual non-stunning slaughter.

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW), which administers the Animal Welfare Act, I am advised is currently investigating a number of claims from the Farm Transparency Project of animal cruelty pre-slaughter at these abattoirs. I am advised, and this is the most recent advice I have, that the investigations are still in their early phases, so there should be opportunities to speak further about it in the future.

Pre-slaughter stunning occurs in all export abattoirs and almost all domestic abattoirs, according to my advice, which means the majority of animals are stunned prior to slaughter in Australia. I am further advised that in South Australia there are only a few small domestic meat processors undertaking ritual slaughter of sheep and goats without pre-stunning. The throughput of livestock in these establishments is extremely low.

There are several pieces of South Australian legislation which apply to meat processing establishments. These include the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and the Animal Welfare Regulations 2012, which fall under the portfolio of Minister Close. They must also comply with the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) Act 2004 and the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Meat) Regulations 2017. That legislation requires compliance with various codes of practice and standards, including the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Livestock at Slaughtering Establishments and the standard AS4696:2023 hygienic production and transportation of meat and meat products for human consumption.

There are provisions, I am advised, in standards which allow for the ritual slaughter of livestock without pre-stunning. By permitting unstunned ritual slaughter, Australia is meeting its commitment to allow freedom to express cultural and religious freedoms. In terms of a further update, I am happy to refer that to the minister for animal welfare in the other place—the Minister for the Environment as well, as she is, of course—and bring back a response to the chamber.