It is likely there will be another attempt to send livestock on the MV Bahijah to the Middle East, after the federal agriculture department rejected an application for re-export. The ship has been at Fremantle since a voyage had to be abandoned because of Houthi rebels targeting ships in the Red Sea.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 After the Behijah was turned back to Australia, there was a proposal to take the more than
00:06 15,000 sheep and cattle to the Middle East the long way around.
00:10 The Secretary of Agriculture delivered the bad news for WA farmers late on Monday.
00:15 The application submitted on 26 January 2024 for the re-export of livestock on board the
00:22 MV Beharja to Israel via the Cape of Good Hope has not been approved by my department.
00:29 The departmental regulator couldn't be satisfied that arrangements for the transport of livestock
00:34 to their final destination were appropriate to ensure their health and welfare.
00:38 The Minister says that what happens next is not up to the government.
00:42 That is a commercial decision now for the exporter.
00:45 They have the responsibility to come up with a proposal for what is done with these livestock
00:50 now but the department has made clear that they stand ready and willing to assist the
00:56 exporter.
00:57 The aim at this stage is to try again.
00:59 To remove the livestock from the ship and able to return to quarantine.
01:06 The livestock will be rested for up to 10 days and then a permit will be reissued to
01:11 re-export hopefully.
01:14 The sticking point is a legal challenge from the group's Animals Israel opposing the export.
01:19 The animals are likely to stay on the Beharja until after the heatwave expected in the coming
01:23 days.
01:24 Mr Pearson says that during last week's high temperatures it was much cooler on the boat.
01:29 From the data collected from the ship during that 45, 46 I think it was around the 24 to
01:35 26 degrees off Rocknest.
01:38 Mr Pearson says the alternative is processing on shore but there is a backlog.
01:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]