The treatment of these cattle was described as sadistic, and appalling, not by me, not by animal welfare activists, but by industry and government representatives.
They were right about that. They were not right, however, in suggesting the footage and the response represent the system in action.
We don’t know about this mistreatment due to the work of industry appointed auditors. We know about it due to the footage obtained by an Israeli journalist working undercover.
Indeed the best the Elders auditor could come up with when they inspected the abbatoir was that one of the gates was rusty and too noisy! I said last year when these arrangements were being put in place that it should be animal welfare groups like Animals Australia or the RSPCA doing this work. The industry ignored that call, so I’ll repeat it.
If the live animal export industry expects the public to have any confidence in it, it needs to contract representatives of animal welfare groups to carry out audits and inspections of overseas abbatoirs.
I congratulate the Israeli journalist on his work in bringing this mistreatment to the attention of the public.
Thanks for your statement about this appalling incident.
ReplyDeleteWhen are (Australian) lawmakers going to learn legislation cannot cure all ills especially when it attempts to regulate off shore behaviour? One would think the daily fiasco of failed attempts to destroy the people smugglers' product would be enough to teach that lesson.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we have yet another example of cruelty to animals. What will it take for Labor politicians to review their policy of support for live exports and failed attempts to regulate the industry? Banning live exports might even improve Labor's chances of re-election.
Agree wholeheartedly. This is an appalling disgrace yet again. The lies deceit and ineptitude of the live export industry and the Minister of Agriculture and his team is an utter betrayal of Australians and the livestock bred in this country. How dare they allow our livestock to face such brutal, agonising treatment off these shores.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelvin and all those working to bring an end to this debacle. It has been proven now, the processing and export of chilled meat is worth far far more to this economy than the current live export system. All it does is feather the next of Elders, MLA, Livecorp and the likes.
BRING IT TO AN END.
Mr Thomson- once again, thankyou for continuing to highlight the cruelty of the Live Trade Industry. Let's keep the pressure up- the failures to protect the welfare of Australian Animals is continuing and unacceptable. It cannot be trusted to self regulate and independent auditing must be installed. The Australian people are sickened by footage that just keeps coming.
ReplyDeleteDear Kelvin. Video footage very sad and a reminder that effective audits begin with the questions 'what'and 'how'. Temple Grandin's critical control points are a good start and are used in Oz. These refer to measurables: animals stunned correctly at first go, animals slipping and falling, animals vocalising, use of electric prod and zero tolerance for dragging sensible animals. Temple regards these as similar o traffic rules (see Point of Inquiry podcast 28/8/2012). 'Who' does the audit is important and third party disinterested audit applies in most QA. Problem with RSPCA or Animals Australia doing audits is systems 'corruptibility' where these organisations may become habituated to an income stream. Also not a good idea if we outsource our 'morality' as regards animals to organisations like RSPCA and Animals Australia. We would have to be very confident about their competencies.
ReplyDeleteDear Kelvin. Video footage very sad and a reminder that effective audits begin with the questions 'what'and 'how'. Temple Grandin's critical control points are a good start and are used in Oz. These refer to measurables: animals stunned correctly at first go, animals slipping and falling, animals vocalising, use of electric prod and zero tolerance for dragging sensible animals. Temple regards these as similar o traffic rules (see Point of Inquiry podcast 28/8/2012). 'Who' does the audit is important and third party disinterested audit applies in most QA. Problem with RSPCA or Animals Australia doing audits is systems 'corruptibility' where these organisations may become habituated to an income stream. Also not a good idea if we outsource our 'morality' as regards animals to organisations like RSPCA and Animals Australia. We would have to be very confident about their competencies.
ReplyDeleteIf you believe that Animals Australia is corruptable you must be living in Lala-Land. It's obvious that you have never dealt, or met, with them.
DeleteAs far as outsourcing morality is concerned: yes why should we? the current "owners" are doing a great job. It's hard to find more competent people than them! Just ask the animals!
Can you advise what 'isolated incident' number has been assigned to this? Are we up to three figures? How long before the growing number of 'isolated incidents' can no longer be defended as such? And these are just the ones we know about. This industry and successive Australian governments have had THREE DECADES to prove that this animal torture has or will end and have abjectly failed. There will never - ever - be an excuse for continuing this systemic and egregious animal abuse. It is up to politicians to put an end to it once and for all. No more failed smokescreens. End it now.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we have your support on live exports Kelvin. The Australian public want this industry to end and neither party is listening to the people and we have had enough. I won't vote for a party that supports live exports.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Bravo Kelvin!
ReplyDeleteYou're wasting your talent, time and compassion in the Labour Party, and together with Melissa Parke you should jump ship before it sinks.
Your onging commitment to the welfare of Animals is commendable and it must be so frustrating to be part of a mob who care more about themselves (and numbers) than living creatures. Please keep it up - we, and the animals, need you!
Dear Mr Thomson,
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a voice for animals. The Government, opposition, the Meat and Livestock Authoriy and farmers all have the blood of innocent animals on their hands. Cruelty in the transport and overseas handling of the live export trade has been going on, since it commenced.
Keep up the fight, Mr. Thomson
Mr. Thomson - Thank you so much for voicing your concerns and for doing what you can to uphold the wishes of caring Australians!
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