DCN0718_Combined_150

News in brief
Full details at thedcn.com.au
Department issues live
export licence suspension
Emanuel Exports was named as the company that lost its live export licence
A Company dealing in live exports has had
its license suspended by the Department
of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The name of the company has not
been released, however Fairfax,
the ABC and The Guardian
are all reporting it is
Emanuel Exports,
understood to be
the nation’s largest
exporter of sheep.
In a statement
released by the
Department, it said the
licence would remain
suspended “pending a
review of the company’s
response to a show cause notice”.
“The laws that regulate the export
of livestock include strict requirements
to ensure the health and welfare of
animals. It is the responsibility of
each exporter to ensure it meets those
obligations,” the Department stated.
“The Department takes those
responsibilities very seriously.”
According to the
statement, it was
inappropriate for
the Department
to provide
information while
the investigation was
ongoing.
Further information
is expected to be released
after a review.
Emanuel Exports was the liveexport
company that stocked the vessel
Awassi Express, a ship on which 2400
animals died last year in conditions of
extreme heat on a voyage.
Footage from the voyage, broadcast
by 60 Minutes, generated outrage when
witnessed by Australian viewers earlier in
the year.
The topic of live exports exploded in
early April when 60 Minutes broadcast
images and footage of sheep on board
the Awassi Express that were clearly in
terrible distress.
Since that time Mr Littleproud has
been fighting something of a rearguard
action to defend the live export
sector, even as criticisms arose not only
from activists but from government
backbenchers.
Liberal MP Sussan Ley introduced a
bill to ban the live sheep trade back in
May this year.
Coode Road closure confirmed
A partial closure has taken effect ahead of a full closure to through-traffic in August
A closure of Coode Road West has begun, Port of Melbourne
and DP World Australia have confirmed.
In a joint statement, the Port and the stevedore said the move
was necessary in order to handle a burgeoning freight task.
The closure of Coode Road West is to take place in two stages:
From Monday 18 June, Coode Road West was to be reduced
to one through-lane, with work site barriers and traffic
management to facilitate construction.
From Monday 13 August, Coode Road West will be closed to
through traffic (between Dock Link Road and Mackenzie Road).
From August 13 access to Mackenzie Road initially is to be from
Dynon Road, Footscray Road and the Sims Street loops with
ramps to and from the West Gate Tunnel to provide additional
connections to Mackenzie Road in the longer term.
“With the Port of Melbourne expected to handle up to 12m
TEU by 2065, there is a need to develop and configure the
port to accommodate this expected future growth,” the joint
statement read.
“The closure of Coode Road West will create additional
truck marshalling capacity, increase gate capacity and be the
first step in creating an integrated multi-modal terminal with
increased yard capacity at DP World Australia’s Melbourne
Terminal.”
Supporters believe the integration of Coode Road West
into DPWA’s terminal will help provide greater efficiencies and
cost-competitiveness to Victoria’s freight and logistics industry,
while cutting the impact of port transport congestion on
industry, the environment and the broader community.
Nonetheless, plans to close the road have attracted
opposition from those in the transport sector.
Give us your views. Is this the right decision? Email us at:
editorial@paragonmedia.com.au or post a comment.
Cosca
10
First published in 1891
July 2018 thedcn.com.au