Animal rights group claims that most Australians are opposed to live animal exports are not supported by results from an independent poll released yesterday by Essential Media.

The latest national weekly poll by Essential Media surveyed public attitudes to live cattle exports and the treatment of animals. The poll drew on responses from a randomised sample of 1925 survey participants across Australia.

The first question asked: “Thinking about the export of live animals for slaughter, which of the following statements is closest to your view?”

A total of 54pc supported continued live exports to countries which can guarantee they will be treated humanely, while 15pc of respondents supported continued live exports to any country that wants them.

A total of 25pc of respondents said Australia should not export sheep and cattle to any country at all, while 6pc were undecided.

The survey also breaks down support according to political allegiances.

Despite strong ongoing calls by Greens politicians for a permanent ban on live exports, only 35pc of respondents who identified themselves as Greens voters in the Essential Media survey supported a discontinuation of exports altogether.

58pc of Greens voters in the survey supported continued live exports to countries which can guarantee they will be treated humanely.

The poll also surveyed attitudes to how animals are treated. It presented three different views and asked participants to select which was closest to their own.

61pc chose the phrase “Animals deserve some protection from harm and exploitation, but it is still appropriate to use them for the benefit of humans”.

30pc selected the phrase “Animals deserve the same rights as people to be free from harm and exploitation”.

4pc agreed with the view “Animals don’t need much protection from harm and exploitation since they are just animals”.

5pc said they did not know.

Those most likely to think animals deserved the same rights as people to be free from harm and exploitation were Greens voters (40pc) and women (38pc).

The latest poll suggests a slight change in attitudes to the live export trade compared to a similar poll conducted by Essential Media on June 20 last year in the midst of the Federal Government’s ban on live exports.

In that poll 22pc of respondents said Australia should not export live cattle to any country at all (compared to 25pc this week), 58pc said Australia should only export live cattle to countries which guarantee they will be treated humanely (54pc this week), and 14pc said Australia should export live cattle to any country that wants them (15pc this week), with 6pc undecided (unchanged).

To view the results in more detail in the latest Essential Media report click here