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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-19 Daily Xml
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ANIMAL WELFARE

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries on the topic of CCTV in abattoirs.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Two years ago in June 2011, I asked the minister a question on notice about halal-certified slaughterhouses operating here in South Australia, how many existed, and whether and how they were regulated and maintained to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. I have not yet received an answer. However, subsequent to that, like millions of other Australians, I have been appalled and shocked at horrific examples of cruelty exposed in major abattoirs interstate, most recently on ABC's Lateline program on 20 March 2013.

Last year in February, meat processor Teys Australia announced the introduction of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras into abattoirs that they operate across Australia, including, commendably, their Naracoorte operations. I have since moved for mandatory CCTV in all South Australian abattoirs, slaughterhouses, and poultry and game meat establishments.

Earlier this month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia Pacific (PETA) wrote to the Australian Livestock Exporters Council offering, and I quote, to 'pay to install and monitor surveillance cameras on each ship that transports animals from Australia to be slaughtered overseas, as well as in all the slaughterhouses approved by the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System'. Therefore, my questions to the minister are:

1. Will she accept a similar offer to fund installation of CCTV cameras in South Australian abattoirs should it be extended to this government?

2. Will your government mandate CCTV surveillance in all South Australian abattoirs to ensure that acts of cruelty, such as those exposed on ABC's Lateline program on 20 March 2013, can never occur in our state of South Australia?

3. Will she ensure that PIRSA works with any companies operating in South Australia involved in the live export trade to introduce CCTV on board live export ships they use and in all slaughterhouses approved by the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, given that an NGO has offered to assist with funding in a similar example?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. The issue of animal welfare in our abattoirs, particularly pertaining to the live export of stock, has been something that has been televised fairly recently, and footage has been shown that has shocked all Australians. The federal government is responsible for standards and processes around livestock export, and certainly the aquaculture, fisheries and forestry minister, Senator Joe Ludwig, has been responding to those concerns in ensuring that systems are put in place and standards are adhered to. I think the last instance was to Indonesia, but nevertheless my understanding is that that did not involve South Australian livestock.

The abattoirs here in South Australia and the conditions in which animals are slaughtered must comply with a wide range of different standards—health and safety standards, as well as animal welfare standards. The compliance here in South Australia is very high and we have systems in place that when there is a breach of compliance we have inspectors, etc. These systems are monitored fairly regularly, and if there is a breach in compliance action is taken swiftly, so I am confident that, in terms of the animal welfare, provisions for livestock in our abattoirs here are well covered by the standards that are currently in place.

These are generally national standards, and I think that is a good thing. We obviously need to look to proceed in a nationally consistent way, rather than having different rules for different jurisdictions. Those standards are reviewed from time to time and we make sure that we bring those things up to date to ensure that they meet public expectation and also take into account modern technology and the like. I am confident that those systems in place are adequate.

It is my understanding that CCTV is not a requirement of our current standards. I can double-check that, but I do not believe it is. I encourage these facilities to put those appliances in place, and it is great that we have an organisation that is offering to assist with the costs of that as well. I think that is something that we can promote and continue to encourage our abattoirs to install. I believe that particularly here in South Australia our current standards are very high, compliance levels are high, and that where there are breaches the action is swift because we take animal welfare very seriously here in South Australia.

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