Post-Implementation Review – Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
On 17 May 2018, the (then) Minister for Agriculture announced the Australian Government would act on several recommendations outlined in the McCarthy Review to limit the risk of heat stress in sheep exported to or through the Middle East, to improve animal welfare outcomes while supporting the continuation of the trade.
The Australian Government’s decision was the catalyst for further regulatory changes including the introduction of the Independent Observer Program; the prohibition of the export of sheep to the Middle East in the 2019 Northern Hemisphere summer; and a reduced transition period for amendments to Marine Order 43.
Due to the urgent need for reform, to meet the objective of reducing heat stress in sheep exported to or through the Middle East, the (then) Prime Minister granted an exemption from the requirement to prepare a Regulation Impact Statement, triggering the need to prepare a Post-Implementation Review (PIR) within 2 years of the decision.
The PIR found the total regulatory cost to be $4.19 million annually, split between exporters ($2.5 million) and ship owners ($1.69 million). By balancing animal welfare and the need for a sustainable live export trade, the PIR presents evidence that the decision resulted in an overall positive impact.
The PIR was jointly prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and was submitted to the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) on 3 September 2020.
The OBPR assessed the PIR as compliant with the Australian Government’s requirements and consistent with best practic