LIVE exporters have agreed to cut stocking densities of sheep aboard vessels during summer months by 17.5 per cent as part of a series of measures aimed at avoiding further animal cruelty scandals.

The Australian livestock export industry is also about to establish a code of conduct and form a committee with powers to examine actions of individual exporters that might bring the industry into disrepute, after a meeting in Perth yesterday.

Australian Livestock Exporters Council chairman Simon Crean led the meeting of 10 exporters. It was Mr Crean’s first visit to WA since vision emerged of big numbers of sheep dying in appalling conditions during a series of voyages to the Middle East aboard the vessel Awassi Express.

Exporters also backed a Federal Government plan to place an independent observer aboard summer shipments to the Arabian Gulf and establishing a new inspector-general for the welfare of exported animals.

Mr Crean said the reforms represented significant progress for animal welfare in the industry.

The former Labor leader would not be drawn on whether he would meet State and Federal Labor MPs over their demand for a suspension of shipments of live sheep during the northern summer months.

He said little on a separate meeting with State Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan yesterday, other than to say it was constructive. Meanwhile, WA Farmers said only the best ships should be used for live export during the northern hemisphere summer to ensure better standards.

WA Farmers president Tony York said growers wanted regulators held to account.

“Australia has the ability to transport animals in modern ships with much higher animal welfare abilities than what the 60 Minutes footage portrayed,” Mr York said.

Mr York said current and previous regulatory bodies had neglected their obligations under the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System and the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.

Pastoralists and Graziers president Tony Seabrook said tough talk by politicians had taken its toll.

“I’ve said the same to Ms MacTiernan and to the Premier. They have made bold statements about shutting down the trade, based on virtually zero information,” he said.

Mr Seabrook said he and Mr York had made repeated requests for meetings with Premier Mark McGowan, but nothing had happened.

The Awassi Express is expected to arrive in Broome around May 6 where it will be loaded with cattle for Indonesia.

The ship was left in limbo in Fremantle for almost three weeks as it was forced to have repairs to meet standards. Importer Kuwait Livestock Trading and Transport released the Awassi Express to another customer’s export order and will proceed with two sheep shipments in its own vessels.