Charges laid over ‘unnecessary harm’ in live-sheep export

A Perth-based live export company and two directors have been charged with alleged cruelty to animals.

The livestock carrier Awassi Express is seen moored at Fremantle Port. Picture: AAP

A Perth-based live export company and two directors have been charged with alleged cruelty to animals in a move by the West Australian government, which has vowed to “clean up” the live sheep export industry.

The charges came on the same day the federal Agriculture Department announced it would extend until late September the three-month prohibition on transporting live sheep to the Middle East because it was too hot during the entire northern summer.

Charges under WA’s Animal Welfare Act have been laid against Emanuel Exports, a family-operated company that lost its federal export licence four months after scenes of dying sheep and lambs aboard their ship the Awassi Express were aired earlier this year.

Some 2400 sheep died during the 2017 voyage, in scenes recorded by a whistleblower on board. The TV footage led to widespread calls for a total ban on live exports, and resulted in the commonwealth ban on summer exports.

Two former Emanuel directors face charges of “unnecessary harm caused or likely to be caused to sheep due to heat stress”.

The charges follow an 18-month investigation by state compliance officers with powers to inspect livestock export ships leaving Fremantle port.

WA exports more than three-quarters of Australia’s live sheep. Until losing its licence, Emanuel was the largest single livestock handler.