Dr Michael McCarthy was appointed by the agriculture minister, David Littleproud, to conduct the review on 10 April, two days after 60 Minutes aired footage of sheep suffering extreme distress on the Emanuel Exports stocked ship Awassi Express, which left Fremantle on 1 August 2017 and lost 2,400 sheep to heat stress.
McCarthy has more than 30 years experience as a livestock veterinarian and has worked most of his career in the live export trade.
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He has acted as shipboard veterinarian on 65 live export voyages for eight major Australian exporters, including Emanuel Exports, conducted industry-funded research for Meat and Livestock Australia and Livecorp, and acted as an expert consultant for Murdoch University and the University of Queensland.
Animal welfare groups say McCarthy is extremely knowledgeable about the industry but his extensive working history as a paid contractor to the live export industry created a perceived conflict of interest.
The RSPCA, Animals Australia and Vets Against Live Export (VALE) wrote separately to Littleproud raising concerns about McCarthy's appointment.
VALE spokeswoman Sue Foster said McCarthy was a well-published researcher who had made recommendations for change in the past, although those recommendations had not been taken up by the industry.
But she said his extensive work history with key live exporters, including Emanuel Exports, whose conduct sparked the review, created a possible conflict of interest.
"VALE has concerns about the independence of the review given the long-term association and employment that vet has in the live export industry," Foster told Guardian Australia.
The RSPCA said it did not questions McCarthy's scientific credentials but said "we were surprised that they had appointed someone who was so reliant on industry funding".
Animals Australia said the review should have been co-chaired by Australia's chief veterinary officer.
McCarthy declined to comment when contacted by Guardian Australia.
Littleproud said McCarthy's review would be "absolutely independent".
"Animal welfare groups regularly cite Dr McCarthy's research in their arguments and some were consulted prior to him being consulted," Littleproud said, adding that McCarthy would consult with animal welfare organisations as part of the review.
"Appointing a vet who had never had any involvement with live export to perform a review of conditions on live export boats would be a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.
"The reviews I've ordered after being in the job just three months will be done by eminent and fiercely independent people."
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Neither Animals Australia, nor the RSPCA, nor VALE said they were consulted specifically about McCarthy's appointment.
Labor has called for an immediate suspension of the live sheep export trade until the McCarthy review is completed. It has also called for a three-month ban during the hottest months in the Persian Gulf.
The final report is due on 11 May.
Littleproud has said that he will support an end to the summer trade if that is what McCarthy recommends, saying on Friday that: "If I am looking at evidence that Dr McCarthy comes back with that says there is no way in any sense that this could be undertaken then we have to listen to that."
