Live Export

Animal groups fight on as live export bills defeated

James Nason, 19/08/2011

Animal welfare groups Animals Australia and RSPCA yesterday continued their campaign against the live export industry by releasing further footage of inhumane practices in foreign abattoirs as two bills seeking an end to live exports were comprehensively defeated in Federal Parliament.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt were the only members to vote in support of their draft legislation calling for the abolition of live animal exports.

The bills were introduced in response to the public furore that erupted over livestock handling practices in overseas markets following the release of footage filmed in Indonesian abattoirs by Animals Australia.

As Federal Parliament rejected those bills yesterday Animals Australia continued its campaign by releasing footage from Turkish abattoirs showing cattle and sheep being hoisted above the ground and having their throats cut, a practice which violates OIE animal welfare standards.

Agriculture minister Joe Ludwig said the footage was the same footage provided to his office last week.

The footage had already been referred to the Farmer Review for consideration, he said.

“I am advised by Animals Australia that they are unable to confirm if the livestock pictured in the footage are Australian animals,” Mr Ludwig said in a statement.

The Government had already taken clear action to ensure the welfare of Australian animals, he said, and through the Farmer Review was committed reforming the live export system.

AA spokesperson Lyn White said that while she could not confirm that the animals shown in the footage were Australian, she said the 10 abattoirs included in the footage were known destinations of Australian sheep and cattle.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie yesterday said he would now introduce a new bill calling for stunning to be made mandatory.

 

Meanwhile the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Committee has been granted an extension until September 21.

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