Have you had any communication—and I’m sure there are other matters much higher on everybody’s agenda in that part of the world—from the State of Israel on the turnaround of the MV Bahijah, the live export ship, which was on its way to Israel?
Senator BROCKMAN: Have you had any communication—and I’m sure there are other matters much higher on everybody’s agenda in that part of the world—from the State of Israel on the turnaround of the MV Bahijah, the live export ship, which was on its way to Israel?
Mr Innes-Brown : There has been some discussion in Tel Aviv, but it was an issue that DFAT had a discussion with the Israeli ambassador about just in the recent period of time.
Senator BROCKMAN: Can I ask what the nature of that discussion was? Did food security come up?
Mr Innes-Brown : I wasn’t at the discussion, but, as I understand it, the decision was known and the ambassador noted that the shipment of those sheep was timed for Passover. That was the point he was making, that those sheep were destined for the Passover events, and so that’s what he mentioned.
Senator BROCKMAN: Did he express or communicate the importance of the live trade to Israel?
Mr Innes-Brown : The account that was given to me was that he didn’t talk about that; he just spoke about the particular circumstance of this vessel and the timing of it.