AN INDEPENDENT inspector-general of live animal exports to oversee regulation of the industry is a step closer with the Bill to establish the position as a statutory appointment passing the Senate.
Agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie said the community deserved greater assurance animal welfare outcomes for export livestock were being met and monitored.
Senator McKenzie said the live export industry was a “legitimate trade” but one that won’t be conducted at the “expense of animal welfare standards”.
“Support for the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Bill 2019 means there’ll be an entrenched independent check on the Department of Agriculture’s application of the regulations and its exercise of power.
“Our livestock export system is already world class and the inspector-general will only enhance that.”
The minister said she was confident the Bill would pass the House of Representatives and become law.
“Once it does I will appoint a suitably qualified person to make sure the system is operating as it should—driving positive change in the industry, improving regulator performance and providing greater confidence to the general community about livestock exports.”
