March 10, 2010 Comments (0) Australia, Blog, Middle East, News Like

Humane Chain at Parliament House

Below is a blog post from the Humane Chain‘s website regarding the investigation launch and Parliament House Forum:

WSPA launches new live export cruelty investigation today alongside the Meat Workers Union

A new WSPA investigation has revealed damning evidence of continued welfare abuse of Australian sheep in the live export trade to the Middle East, despite Government and Meat and Livestock Australia claims of improving standards.

(Photo from left to right: WSPA Campaigns Manager Emily Reeves, AMIEU President Grant Courtney, Sydney Mayor Ms Clover Moore, cruelty investigator Reuben Brand)

At an event hosted by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, WSPA presented harrowing new footage, proving the mistreatment of animals throughout the Australian live export supply chain, from dead sheep on transportation ships, through to heat stressed animals and overcrowded sales yards and inhumane handling and slaughter in abattoirs in the Middle East – available for viewing at www.youtube.com/watch?v=he6Fy9foKWM

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said “The latest WSPA investigation demonstrates a clear need for government and industry to invest in humane alternatives to live export, such as locally processed chilled meat, so we can end this trade in misery.”

Also presenting at the event, Grant Courtney, President of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) said “in addition to ethical considerations the Government backed live export trade is crippling the Australian meat processing industry, due to intense competition for livestock.”

“I can’t understand why the Government is sticking its head in the sand when thousands of Australian jobs are being lost due to this trade. Independent research has revealed replacing live export with local processing for export could mean an additional 20% in revenue, safeguarding jobs in our vulnerable rural communities” he continued.

WSPA Programs Manager, Emily Reeves, said “We’ve got the economic data to show live export is bad business, we’ve got a rural industry crippled through poorly thought out Government policy, and we’ve got yet more proof that Australian animals are being handled and slaughtered in a way that would horrify Australians. For all these reasons, the Rudd Government should be deeply ashamed of its unwavering support for the cruel live export trade.”

Thanks to all the general public attendees, animal welfare representatives and journalists that came along today. Together we will bring an end to this trade!