KWINANA MLA Roger Cook has labelled the live-export trade as abhorrent and says rather than moving the trade from Fremantle to Kwinana, more meat packing jobs should be created in Western Australia.
He was opposed to the trade because he was concerned about the welfare of the animals and said the Kwinana community was not in favour of any move of the industry to the Cockburn Sound.
The town was flagged by the industry as a possible future hub of the trade, which could be based at the proposed James Point private port currently under consideration by the State Government.
“I have a couple of concerns. I find the whole notion of live sheep export abhorrent and I am concerned about the welfare of the animals and I’d rather see jobs in relation to meat works kept in WA.”
Mr Cook added he supported the protest group formed by local residents who were opposing any plans to move the trade to Kwinana.
But if the trade was moved to Kwinana he wanted guarantees from government and industry that they would keep off Thomas Road, which was close to residential properties.
“I want assurances from the industry and the government that they would avoid using Thomas Road like the plague, and develop a transport corridor, so lives aren’t endangered,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said the State Government was currently assessing port requirements for the export task facing WA over the next 50 years but would not comment on whether Kwinana was preferred over Fremantle.
The assessment would include looking at the best options for the livestock export industry and Government was committed to consulting with the community and industry on the issue.
Mr Cook said the community should be active on the issue but he would not go as far as to say it was another industry being ‘dumped’ in Kwinana.
“Kwinana is obviously a most important piece of infrastructure for WA.
“But I think the issue is we don’t want people saying ‘no’ to this here, or in Fremantle, and then having it moved somewhere else.
“I don’t think it is inevitable that the industry will move to Kwinana – but it’s important the community puts the Government on notice.”