The Government should not agree to the demand by live animal exporter Graham Daws for an extension to the end of February deadline for new regulations to apply to live animals exported to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey.
The Australian people are not indifferent to the treatment of live animals once they are exported from Australia. It is a matter of very great concern to them. In my experience most people are surprised and unimpressed to learn that we do not know how animals are treated once they leave Australia, and will expect the industry and the government to rectify this unsatisfactory situation within the announced timeframe.
The fact that the exporters do not know what happens to the animals in these countries begs the question of what they have been doing with the massive amounts of taxpayer largesse over three decades which we were deluded into thinking they were spending on animal welfare. It is not as if Emanuel Exports and Daws sre strangers to animal cruelty charges in Australiam courts either. There can never be an excuse for the animal torture we have seen over a decade in importing countries and the only solution to this torturous animal trafficking is to end it. No more specious 'enquiries' coming up with meaningless recommendations.
ReplyDeleteIt is disgusting that after 30 years, this industry still cannot even implement the most very minimal (and in my opinion completely inadequate) welfare improvements. Australia wants an end to this heinous trade, it is the only way that the cruelty that is so inherent will cease.
ReplyDeleteIt's beyond the time that we be should acting decisively on this issue; thanks so much Kelvin for continuing the pressure, and for representing the hundreds of thousands of people to whom animal rights matter.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelvin for speaking on behalf of the majority of Australians who are depending on our government to ensure humane treatment of animals. Well done!
ReplyDeleteKelvin, thanks for this information. I have tweeted widely to-day on this topic and have also made it the subject of a blog on The Network at http://misseaglesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/01/short-changing-animals-in-live-animal.html
ReplyDeleteI would be happy for people to link to the blog or otherwise retweet or share it on social media.
Good on you, Kelvin.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update and for your commitment in representing those who believe that cruelty has no place in the Australian culture.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Thankyou for your support of the animals. WSPA is getting active again on the subject so we will all be out and about again, doing what we love, namely publicising the need for animal protection in the general community!
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Thomson, thank you for the update and for your commitment in representing the voiceless. Please allow me also to applaud the ALP for voting for the establishment of an Independent Office of Animal Welfare, and I look forward to it being established as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteThe IOAW must have the power to enforce laws which give protection to animals and the fines and prison terms must be severe.
The absolute first priority for the IOAW is to enforce mandatory CCTV Cameras at all Slaughterhouses/Abattoirs, Animal Saleyards, Animal Feedlots and battery 'farms'.
I am fed up with turning on my TV and seeing yet more nightmare visions of animal cruelty, and nothing is being done to stop it. It's not enough to close the facility; a classic case of "shutting the stable door". The cruelty must be prevented in the first place, and the only way to do that is for these people to know that someone at the IOAW will be watching them.
Thank you.
Rosalba Formato-Franklin
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
It is so encouraging that you are willing to take a position on this issue, when other politicians have clearly not considered it important, despite public opinions surrounding the live expor trade. In Indonesia, the brutality against cattle goes unabated, as shown yet again last night in undercover footage. I really despair that nothing has been done about this situation yet. Anyway, thanks for making your position known.
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