The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of the Livestock Act 1997.
Leave granted.
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Earlier today, the minister claimed that she was not the minister for animal welfare and therefore had no responsibilities for the welfare of sheep and the report that had been done by the federal agricultural department and endorsed by PIRSA. My question to the minister is: what is her understanding of the workings of the Livestock Act 1997, in particular the industry codes of practice, the livestock advisory groups and the roles of inspectors in terms of animal welfare?
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:58): I thank the member for her question. She referred in her question to what I said earlier, which I think was in response to her claim that I had said that I have responsibility for live export in this place yesterday. I would like to read out the Hansard from yesterday where, in response to the question on whether I would be the lead minister on the issue of live sheep export, I said:
We certainly work as a team on this side of the chamber.
I went on to say:
My colleague in the other place the Hon. Susan Close is the minister with responsibilities for animal welfare.
I think the claim that I said that I was responsible for live export is incorrect, and the member might like to consider withdrawing that. In terms of the other questions that she has asked, if she has interest in all those things, I think we could certainly talk for several hours on that. I am more than happy to meet with her, as I always am, to discuss all those issues, but they are certainly beyond the scope of an answer in question time.