User:Camille89/Demand for export ban

May 31, 2011

A public outburst has ignited after last nights four corners program exposed the cruel and inhumane treatment and slaughter of Australian cattle in Indonesia. The Federal Government is considering banning live animal exports to some countries after witnessing, Australian cattle being mistreated in Indonesian abattoirs.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig has introduced an immediate moratorium on a type of animal restraint box used in live exports and says he wants a full briefing before deciding on whether to impose export bans.

The Greens and some independents have called for live exports to be banned immediately and today MP Andrew Wilkie will introduce a private member’s bill on the issue into Parliament.

Mr Ludwig says he was shocked by the images and is now examining ways to ban live exports to specific countries. “I have ordered an immediate investigation… by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry”.

The abattoirs featured on Four Corners are well-known to the Australian industry, which has installed equipment and provided training in Indonesian abattoirs to help with the handling of Australian cattle since 2000.

Independent leader Andrew Wilkie said “the Federal Government could create jobs in Australia by processing the cattle onshore rather than exporting live animals for slaughter in other countries”.

The Australian livestock export industry and the Australian Government have invested more than $4 million into improving animal welfare in Indonesia over the past 10 years.