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Independent Reference Group report on the Livestock Export Industry
The Independent Reference Group (IRG) was reconvened by the Minister in response to a series of shipments of livestock during the winter of 2002, where the level of mortalities was unacceptable. The Minister asked the IRG to provide the Government and industry with advice on ways to improve the trade’s animal welfare record.
The IRG examined the entire supply chain of the live export industry including stock selection, transport, feedlot management, load-out supervision, third party veterinarian verification, shipboard management including stock densities, right through to the arrival arrangements at the port of destination.
The attachments to the IRG report include summaries of AQIS investigations into the MV Norvantes and the shipments involving high sheep mortalities. Also, the AQIS report on the MV Becrux was not available to the IRG at the time it met.
At the time of the enquiry, AQIS investigations into the shipments with high mortalities had not concluded, but AQIS provided the IRG with a verbal report.
The IRG report and attachments to the report are avaiable for download in the the following format:
IRG report on Livestock 
PDF [962 KB]
Attachment B: AQIS Presentation PDF [2.7 MB]
Attachment C: AMSA Presentation PDF [698 KB]
Attachment D: Livecorp Presentation PDF [3.42 MB]
Attachment E: Report by AQIS on the MV Norvantes PDF [121 KB]
Attachment F: Report by AQIS on four recent sheep shipments PDF [167 KB]
Attachment G: Livecorp Report on the MV Becrux PDF [12.4 MB]
Attachment H: Report on Portland Feedlot by Australian Chief Veterinary Officer PDF [624 MB]
Attachment I: Suggested terms of reference for a joint working group PDF [70 MB]
If you experience any trouble accessing the file in the above downloadable formats, a copy can be obtained from:
Contact: Animal Welfare Section
Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health
Address: GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax: +61 2 6273 5237
Email: Animal Welfare Unit
