Should animal cruelty be one of our top exports?

Australia's live export trade is a horror story. It's also a story of profit at any cost.
Each year tens of thousands of Australian sheep and cattle die agonizing deaths while being shipped abroad. And the federal government issues export permits that allow this to happen.

A History of Irresponsibility

The horrendous voyage of the MV Cormo Express was just business as usual.   The live export trade has a shocking record of mass animal deaths that runs into the tens of thousands each year. In  2002 some 73,700 sheep died, and nearly two thousand cattle, including more than 40 percent of one shipment. Over the past two decades, hundreds of thousands of animals have died by drowning, disease, suffocation or starvation.

'Voyage of the damned'

Instead of the sky above  - there is solid steel.    You can hardly move.   Instead of the earth beneath your feet - you have a rolling deck.   Your only choice is to eat pellets -or as many do - starve and die.  Instead of fresh air - you breathe in ammonia fumes from the animal waste you're forced to stand in. You are hot, you are hungry, you are distressed. You watch others die  -   and you cannot understand what has happened to you, or what you have done to deserve this.

A Gruesome End

Those animals who survive this horror face a death that can only be described as barbaric. Many overseas slaughter facilities operate with few or no animal welfare laws or guidelines. In Egypt, incidents have been witnessed of slaughtermen, unskilled in handling large Australian cattle subduing struggling animals by slashing leg tendons with long knives or incapacitating them by stabbing their eyes.

Why the live animal export trade must end

Death and suffering

In the past five years 372,595 sheep and 10,173 cattle have died on board livestock vessels.  Last year 73,770 sheep and 2082 cattle died.   Whilst we can count the dead - no-one can measure the suffering of those animals that survive the journey.

Acts of Cruelty

Australia has animal welfare legislation to protect animals from acts of cruelty.   The countries that Australia exports animals to do not. .     The live export industry's claims that they can improve handling practices and facilities in importing countries lack any foundation - in fact witnesses attest to the contrary.  Supplied equipment has been not used, disabled and stolen. 

Ethics and Morality

Can profits for some, ever justify suffering - or disregarding our responsibilities to animals?  The live export industry aids and abets animal cruelty.

Lost Jobs in Australia

The Australian meat processing industry estimates that 17,000 Australian jobs have been lost and 25 abattoirs closed as a result of the live export trade.   Australia has accredited halal and kosher abattoirs that could form the basis of a frozen carcass trade.  Animals in these facilities are treated more humanely than overseas  - with most animals stunned prior to slaughter.      The majority of live animals exported for the Saudi religious festivals are slaughtered in Saudi abattoirs, frozen and shipped to poor Muslims  - putting paid to the lack of refrigeration claim.

Australia should be leading the way….

Australia prides itself in being an enlightened nation.  In this country we have the opportunity to set standards in animal care and protection for the world to follow.  Instead, we are currently world leaders in an industry that is condemned as cruel and unacceptable by every major international animal welfare organisation.   If Australia takes a stand saying live export is unacceptable, it will  support other citizens in other countries who want their nation to make a similar ethical decision.

Why the live animal export industry will end

The live animal export trade has been compared by many to the barbaric slave trade of the 1800's.  It is not hard to see why.   One day, these two industries will sit side by side on the most shameful pages of human history.

Australians want live export to end.  We want to restore our nation's reputation and become a generation of Australians who will be remembered for putting ethics above profits.     The next 12 months are crucial.   If we care enough - live animal export can become the first animal welfare issue on which an election outcome rests.   Any government will put ethics before profits … if they see that their political future depends on it.

You can help Animals Australia to end live export!

Tell Prime Minister Howard and your Federal member of parliament   -
Australians won't tolerate a government that tolerates live animal export.