FOI report reveals mass deaths on Tasmanian live export shipment

23 August 2007

Further shipments may breach Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act.

The conclusions of an AQIS investigation report into the deaths of 1,683 Tasmanian sheep aboard a live export shipment from Devonport to the Middle East could make any further shipments from Tasmania subject to prosecution.  
           
The AQIS report obtained through FOI by Animals Australia concluded that Tasmanian sheep are at greater risk due to being particularly susceptible to heat stress during the voyage.  The sole shipment of live sheep from Tasmania to the Middle East resulted in the highest mortalities of shipments from Australia in 2006.

“In our view, the conclusions of the AQIS investigation, that Tasmanian sheep are at greater risk, could clearly be used to support a prosecution against any Tasmanian company considering exporting animals to the Middle East,” said Animals Australia’s Executive Director Glenys Oogjes

Section 8 of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act under Cruelty to Animals states:
(1) A person must not do any act, or omit to do any duty, which causes or is likely to cause unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering to an animals. 

In Western Australia in February this year leading live export company Emanuel Pty Ltd and two directors faced an 8 day trial for allegedly breaching provisions in the WA Animal Welfare Act - they were accused of exporting sheep such that the animals were ‘likely’ to suffer harm.  Charges were brought by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development after a complaint was lodged by Animals Australia.  The magistrate is still considering her verdict.

The Tasmanian shipment left Devonport with 71,309 sheep (and 320 cattle which had been loaded in Portland Vic) in February last year on the MV Al Messilah.   The shipment was subject to protest action including the prophetic painting of ‘death ship’ on the side of the vessel.  

“The conclusions of the AQIS investigation are damning.  They indicate that a number of the Australian Live Export Standards were breached, including sick sheep left untreated due to inadequate staff.       To send further shipments of sheep from Tasmania knowing that they are at unusually high risk would be unconscionable and a potential breach of state animal welfare laws,” said Jennifer Beer, spokesperson for Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT).

The AQIS investigation concluded that the high level of deaths were due to inanition (animals failing to eat) caused by ‘a number of different factors that combined together resulted in an increase in the stress experienced by the sheep’.  

“The majority of the factors listed in the AQIS report that resulted in the suffering and deaths of Tasmanian animals on this vessel were absolutely predictable.  Combine these with inadequate resources to treat sick animals and inadequate fodder on board – and you had all the ingredients necessary for an animal welfare disaster which is exactly what occurred,” said Ms Beer

“It is clear from the AQIS investigation report that the exporter Roberts Limited breached the Australian Live Export Standards.  They should have been prosecuted and had their licence cancelled,” said Ms Oogjes

Click here for the full AQIS report on the Al Messilah shipment.