Fremantle-based not-for-profit organisation Stop Live Exports has refuted Mark McGowan’s claims that current live animal export standards are acceptable, saying welfare standards are badly lacking despite Australia’s decades-long involvement in the trade. “You only need to read the Independent Observer reports to know this”, Stop Live Exports Campaign Manager Katrina Love said.
The group says the writing is on the wall, with the trade in terminal decline and the majority of Australians in favour of ending live animal exports. They are calling for an end to live animal exports and rubbished claims producers will suffer as a result.
“Ending live animal export isn’t about disadvantaging producers, this is just what a handful of exporters want everyone to believe. Ending live exports is about ensuring that animals don’t suffer unnecessarily.”
Image: Animals Australia
“Seven out of 10 Australians in rural areas want live animal exports to end and more people from rural areas, than from anywhere else, are concerned about the inadequacy of current welfare standards.
Ms Love said Stop Live Exports wants the live animal export trade replaced entirely by a reliable chilled meat trade – that looks after producers and their animals too.
She said Australia’s live animal export industry accounts for less than 5% of the value of Australia’s livestock industries.
“Annual live sheep exports have dropped by an average of 25% per year between 2017 and 2021,” Ms Love said.
“Producers want a more reliable trade that isn’t impacted by stoppages. Transitioning to a chilled meat trade provides them with a profitable, secure and more ethical alternative income stream.”
Ms Love went further saying that live animal export created jobs in importing countries, rather than in Australia, and said ending the live sheep trade could facilitate 350 full-time equivalent employees and be worth an additional $18million in increased value-adding for Australian meat processors.
“We welcome Labor’s re-commitment to ending live sheep exports,” she said. “It brings us in line with other countries such as the United Kingdom and New Zealand who have both committed to ending the trade.”
“Ending live animal export is an important election issue to voters across all divides. We urge all Australians to support parties and candidates who oppose live animal export, and oppose those who support the trade.”
Visit stopliveexports.org and follow them on Facebook at @StopLiveExports to find out which political parties support an end to live animal export and to learn more.
…/ENDS
Media contact:
Katrina Love
Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
04XX XXX 588