Response from Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

As promised here is the letter response from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about my email to the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.  See my last post titled ‘Are Australians Hypocritical’. The letter was scanned and emailed to me as an PDF attachment as they did not have my postal address.  I had a lot of issues trying to resize the PDF so all of the letter could be read so last night I had to delete the post as I knew I was going to have to type the letter out again (I’m thankful for taking typing in grade ten).  Also thankyou Nevyn for emailing me about the problem with the post as well.  Here is the letter below (that I retyped):

 

Dear Mrs McArthur

Thank you for your correspondence of 17 June 2009 to the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing and Australia’s live export industry. Your correspondence was referred to the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, as the matter falls within his portfolio responsibilities.  Minister Burke has asked me to reply on his behalf. I regret the delay in responding.

The Australian Government supports a strong, vibrant and growing livestock sector in Australia.

An important part of the sector is the livestock export industry, which was worth more than $900 million in 2008 and underpins employment of around 10 000 people in rural and regional Australia.

This sector comes with challenges and responsibilities different from those in some other export industries.  Being part of the international live export trade means Australia can help improve the way it operates. benefiting not just our animals but those from other countries as well.  The government and those involved in the live export trade are continuing to work on improvements throughout the supply chain from farm to overseas market.

The Minister recently announced the Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership, a new three-year partnership with Australia’s livestock export industry with funding of $3.2 million for activities to strengthen animal welfare and support trade.  From 2009-10 onwards the program will be funded under a shared arrangement (50:50) with the industry. It is a good example of government and industry working together to support Australian agriculture and trade.

Since the beginning of 2008, Mr Burke has approved projects worth more than $2.4 million under the Live Animal Trade Program that will further improve animal welfare practices in importing countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. The funding has supported upgrades in livestock facilities in the Middle East and Asian regions to ensure they meet international animal welfare standards.

Our involvement in the livestock export trade and our leadership in international animal welfare issues provide the opportunity to influence change and improve conditions for animals in overseas countries.

The government and the live export industry are committed to working with our trading partners to improve animals welfare in those countries that receive our exports. In recent years, infrastructure for unloading, handling and slaughter has been improved in several export destinations. Education and training has also been provided for people involved in animals handling, transport and slaughter.

The government has also introduced standards for the long-distance of animals to overseas markets, called the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.  The standards were written after consultation with scientists and animals welfare experts like the RSPCA.  The standards are regularly updated and are available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s  website at www.daff.gov.au/livestockexportstandards

Guidelines to ensure exported animals are well treated during road and sea transportation are an important part of the standards. Ships must comply with strict standards about ventilation, drainage and provision of water and food. Each animal must have access to food and water on demand and enough space to lie down and there must be special pens for sick animals to receive veterinary card.

Australia has also signed agreements with some countries in the Middle East concerning the live animal trade. We take these agreements very seriously and have previously suspended shipments to some countries after particular problems have arisen.

While projects funded by the Australian government will provide direct and specific benefits, we recognise that the achievement of long-term reform in animals welfare in developing countries requires the adoption by these countries of the international animals welfare standards. Australia will continue to work with countries in the Middle East and Asia seeking the adoption of the model legislation based on the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) animal welfare standards.

Thank you again for your correspondence.

Yours sincerely

Peter Ottesen Acting Executive Manager Agricultural Productivity Division

Loving Natra-Kleen

Eighteen months ago Tim Pharo from Pharo Cleaning Services mentioned to me his desire to only use environmentally friendly products in his commercial cleaning company.  He shared about his concern for his staff and the environment with the chemicals found in commercial cleaning products.

Eighteen months on, I am really proud of Tim as he has achieved his goal.  Tim now not only uses the environmentally friendly range ‘Natra-Kleen’ but was so impressed with them, he is now a distributor for their cleaning products range.  Let me give you a little run down on Natra-Kleen as I spent this long weekend testing these products in my own home:

* Australian made products by an Australian owned company.
* Containers are recyclable.
* Products are PH neutral so will not harm water supplies.
* Can purchase products concentrated so it is more economical. 
* Safe for children if they accidentally swallow the products.
* Non toxic.
* Safe for grey water systems.
* Insect repellent.
* Bio-degradable.
* Environmentally safe.
* Non-abrasive.
* Non-corrosive.
* No residual.
* Choose from sphere mint or no fragrance.

 

Natra-Kleen products contain NO: ammonia, animal fats, bleach, borates, phenol, chlorinated solvents, inorganic alkaline salts, nitrates, phosphates.

I purchased a 1 litre concentrate bottle of the ‘all purpose cleaner’ from Tim.  What I love about the all purpose concentrate is the flexibility of the product i.e being able to use the cleaner for many different purposes.

Firstly I used the liquid as laundry detergent.   The instructions stated to use approx 4 pumps (using the pump included) of liquid for a really dirty, full load inside a top loader washing machine .  Unfortunately however my dogs ‘Mini’ and ‘Cooper’ ate the pump (naughty little monkeys) so I had to improvise. 

One pump is suppose to be 4ml of liquid.  Using a very small measuring cup I worked out that the cap for the container itself, held about 12ml of liquid.  Therefore one cap full of liquid worked out to be approx three pumps.

So now I decided to start with my smelly karate gees (really stinky) with just one cap of concentrate liquid.  The 2nd load was another full load but this time it was our dogs beds, blankets and towels (again very smelly).  This time I decided on two caps of liquid.  Both loads came out smelling & looking clean but I preferred the two cap’s load, as I liked the stronger smell of sphere mint.

Next I used the ‘all purpose cleaner’ as dishwashing liquid (by hand).  I used about a 1/3 of a cap (one pump) which would of been approx 4ml of liquid.  Nothing unusual to report.  The product worked just as well as the dishwashing liquid we were using before except I didn’t have to use as much liquid.

Then using a 500ml spray bottle filled with water and 16ml of liquid, I could use the product as a surface spray.  Therefore I used the spray to clean the kitchen benches after cleaning the dishes in the sink.  My benches weren’t really dirty but I was happy with the clean and I love the sphere mint smell in the kitchen.

Tim gave me the Natra-Kleen disinfectant spray to try.  Tim’s professional cleaning tip about disinfecting kitchen/bathroom surfaces, is to spray the disinfectant onto the surfaces after cleaning and then let it dry naturally.  The reason?  Because often the cloths we use to wipe down benches are not 100% clean and hence we contaminate the surface.

Personally I always worry about using disinfectants on kitchen benches (in food prep areas) as I am concerned about the chemicals contained in these types of products.  After reading about Natra-Kleen disinfectant, I was not concerned about spraying it onto my kitchen surfaces as I knew it was non toxic.

Lastly I used the ‘all purpose cleaner’ to clean the toilet and bathroom.  As I have been unwell lately the shower had some mould on the tiles as it has been awhile since it was cleaned.  After spraying the glass shower screen and tiles and left it for about 5 min, I then used a hand scrubber to go over the surfaces.  In the areas were mould was found (corners and in between the tiles) I used an old tooth brush with pure concentrated liquid. 

In summing up I will definitely use these products again for all these scenarios (and try other products and other uses) however I think a cream cleanser would work better on really dirty bathroom surface.  I believe Natra-Kleen are in the process of inviting a cream cleanser that meets the standards as all their other products.  Until then I might use bicarbonate soda (as a cream cleanser) along with Natra-Kleen’s ‘all purpose cleaning’ product.

This product is safe for restaurants, hospitals and schools and I can recommend it for the household.

For more information or to inquire about purchasing any Natra-Kleen products please contact Tim Pharo tim@pharo.com.au

What is everyone doing with their stimulus package?

The Australian government from the 1st of April, will be handing out the next stage of the stimulus package.  Up to $900 will be going to tax payers who have earned less than $100,000.00 last financial year (assuming you have your June 08 tax return done in time).

 

Regular readers will probably already know what I would suggest i.e. buy Australian made and owned products.  Also if the products could also benefit the environment like water tanks, fixing leaky water taps, water wise shower heads, compost bins etc that would be the topping on the cake for me.

 

There has been so much debate about the government’s fiscal policy to stimulate Australia’s economy, that I wondered what bloggers and readers were planning on doing with the money they received?

 

Thought it would be interesting to create a poll which will collect data on this subject anonymously.

 

I am interested in everyone’s thoughts?  Please leave a comment if you have anything further to add.

‘Mega’ Fires

To be honest, the last couple of days I have found it hard to write a new post.

 

I am finding it hard to articulate any words after the bush fires. 

 

What I am failing to do in words however, I am doing in actions.  Just like millions of Australians I have donated to the Victorian Bush Fire – Red Cross Fund.  Also I have felt moved to donate to the RSPCA Victorian Bush Fire fund, to help with the ongoing help for the animals (pets, live stock & wild life) who were inquired in the fires.

 

If anyone else would like to donate to the RSPCA Victorian Bush Fire fund please visit their website.

 

I am still up and watching channel 10’s late news.  Did anyone else catch the story about the age of the ‘mega’ fires?  These ‘mega’ fires have so been named because they say that they are so strong we no longer have the facility to control them.

 

The news story went on to say that perhaps scientists have under estimated the impact climate change will have on our environment.

 

A couple months ago I was the commissioned professional photographer that captured images for the 2009 Australian Fire Protection Industry conference.  Many speakers at the conference talked about the impact that global warming and climate change will have on their industry and the problems they will face not only in the future but right now.

 

Perhaps the reason for my melancholy is not just the sadness about the bush fires but also the knowledge that these ‘mega’ fires are here to stay.

 

 

Only in Australia………

 

……….Could such terrible and saddening destruction occur from floods in the North while apocalyptic raging fires cause total destruction of homes and loss of lives in the South.

 

As an Australian I am grieving.  Today no other post was appropriate given the news over last couple of days.

 

On hearing the news, I rang my Nan and she answered the phone without knowing who was on the other end “I’m ok, we are all ok”.  Listening to her frail voice brought me to tears but I held back the sound of my concern so not to upset her.

 

I am relieved that my family and friends in both the flood and fire regions are ok but I am sickened and saddened by the tremendous loss.  The numbers look to go way over 200 people lost to the fire and thousands of homes, live stock, pets, and possessions lost to both fire and flood.

 

For all those who have been affected by the floods and fire please know that the nation grieves with you. 

 

I am not sure of any other words to add, but to say; please let us who have not been affected, do not forget those who have.