Senator WOODLEY(11.09 a.m.) —I have read most of what Senator Collins has given us in a briefing that was sent to my office. But that does not reassure me. I must say to Senator Collins that I acknowledge that there are many improvements being forced on this trade in terms of welfare but the motion calls on the government, not the Senate, to initiate an inquiry and investigate. It sounds as though the government is doing that. So I do not see any harm in that motion, and certainly no reason for the kind of reaction that it has had here this morning. The motion calls on the government, not the Senate, to implement measures to prevent a similar disaster happening again. That is a terribly reasonable proposition as far as I am concerned.

I personally support—and I want it on the record—the live sheep and cattle trade, but the best way to prejudice that trade is to ignore issues. I know that this debate is not ignoring the issues. However, I am surprised at the reaction to a very simple and not at all controversial proposal that, I think, would reassure people out there who are concerned, who do not have the information we have and who are very angry about what they see as cruelty to animals.

This is not necessarily a lot of wild-eyed people running down the street. The live sheep trade is opposed by the RSPCA, for example. I am not opposed to it, but I am concerned about the impression given when a very innocuous motion is put. I am not saying that in a pejorative way. I am not trying to put Senator Margetts down; I think she was trying to be helpful by moving a motion which I think should have been accepted by everybody without debate, but is not. Despite what you say about press releases, Senator Collins, we do not need press releases. People who are concerned about these issues will read the Hansard.

Senator Bob Collins —I agree. But we would have got some if we hadn't said anything.

Senator WOODLEY —I do not know. They may still go. I will not have the time, but others may.

Senator Bob Collins —At least I am on the record, Senator.

Senator WOODLEY —Good. I want to underline that I believe that what we are doing by not passing this motion is not reassuring the people who are concerned about the cruelty which is involved from time to time in this trade. The Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare tabled a report about live sheep export 10 years ago. For the students of history, the committee was chaired by former Senator George Georges from Queensland, a friend of mine. It included my Democrat colleague from Western Australia, former Senator Jack Evans, and former National Party Senate leader Senator Scott from New South Wales. It was a very good report. The report came to this conclusion:

If a decision were to be made on the future of the trade purely on animal welfare grounds, there is enough evidence to stop the trade. The trade is, in many respects, inimical to good animal welfare, and it is not in the interests of the animal to be transported to the Middle East for slaughter.

The committee went on to acknowledge that the animal welfare aspects of the trade could not be divorced from economic and other considerations. I am very aware of that. The live cattle trade and the live export sheep trade has been the only thing that has kept our wool industry and our cattle industry afloat. The rest of it has been bad news, but the live animal trade has enabled them to survive. So I am aware of those economic and other considerations. The committee recommended a range of reforms aimed at alleviating at least some of the suffering of the sheep. More importantly, the committee recognised the need to develop a long term solution. It recognised that the substitution of the refrigerated sheep meat trade offers such a solution.

I have listened to Senator Collins this morning. I acknowledge that for at least part of this trade the customers do not accept frozen carcasses. I understand that. Nevertheless, one still has a question in one's mind about whether or not the frozen carcass trade has really been promoted as I think it should have been. The report said:

The Federal government should promote and encourage the expansion of the refrigerated sheepmeat trade to the Middle East and other countries, with the aim of eventually substituting it for the live sheep trade.

That was a report of 10 years ago, and I know we have moved on. But I wanted to put on the record that these concerns have been raised for a very long time.

In answer to an interjection from Senator O'Chee before: I do not know about the figures but, having had conversations with the AMIEU in Townsville and in other places and having watched the closure of meatworks in many towns in my state of Queensland, I am afraid that I take seriously what the meatworkers union tells me about the loss of jobs. I believe we are losing jobs in that industry, we are closing down meatworks, and I cannot agree that there is no connection between that and the live sheep trade.

Senator Bob Collins —It might have something with the price.

Senator WOODLEY —It has got something to do with the price, and that is the other problem, of course: once you supply one part of a market, of course you are going to get a much higher price for that product—as we do get almost double the price for live sheep as we get for sheep for slaughter. But one wonders whether or not, in reinforcing one part of the trade, you in fact degrade the other half.

Senator Bob Collins —We don't have a stranglehold on the sheep market.

Senator WOODLEY —I cannot hear you, Senator Collins, or I would probably respond to your interjection.

Senator Bob Collins —We don't have a world dominance on the sheep market. Someone else will certainly supply them if we don't.

Senator WOODLEY —Yes, I am certainly aware of that. But let me point out, Senator Collins, that the information I have contradicts what you said. So it may be that we will need to consult later on. The Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation advised my office—I hope Senator Collins is listening—that the frozen carcass trade actually declined by nearly half last financial year due to the product simply not being available during the peak supply period. That is an interesting statistic. I do not know whose information is correct; I am simply giving you what the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation advised my office. We will have to compare our sources, I think, and find out what the true situation is. But that certainly would seem to indicate that priority in supply is being given to the live sheep trade over the carcass trade.

We have already debated the issues of value adding, and live sheep trade and live cattle trade must be the least value added industry that one could imagine. We all know the importance to primary industry of value adding.

These are the concerns the Democrats have. I believe that Senator Margetts was being responsible in raising this issue here. I know we have had the debate, but I cannot understand why the government and opposition do not agree with the very sensible recommendations that she has made. The first, to instigate an investigation, has been done, and we are happy. We hope that it proceeds and we will look for the report. The second recommendation, to implement measures to prevent a similar disaster happening again, is simply asking not the Senate but the government to do that. Senator Margetts, you are to be commended for bringing this motion. Certainly, the Democrats will support you.