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Live Exports
Sailing Towards Another Disaster
The RSPCA has been campaigning for a number of years to put an end to the live export of stock animals. The only way of ensuringa halt to the unnecessary suffering of livestock is by introducing a carcass-only trade. There have been too many fatalities in the past from livestock spending weeks on end on these ships.
Livestockis subjected to horrific conditions intrinsicto the long distance transport of any animals. The RSPCA estimates between 37,000 sheep die each year from export-related causes including starvation, poor ventilation, sudden rises in temperature and humidity, even before they reach their destination.
But their agony doesn't stop there. The RSPCA has grave concerns about the way these animals are treated when they reach their destination, including the way they are offloaded from the ship, the method of transportation and the means by which stock are slaughtered. This mistreatment would never be accepted in Australia, andwhile we have no control over the way these animals are treated in other countries, we do have the power to prevent this in the first place by implementing a carcass-only trade.
The 2003 MV Cormo Express debacle, in which more than 5,500 sheep died at sea, and another 50,000 were trapped on board the vessel for more than 11 weeks, served to furtherraise awarenessof the live export trade. From the uproar and disgust generated by the Cormo Express, the Government was pressured to improve live export conditions and announced an enquiry into live export. The Keniry Report, released in early 2004, made eight recommendations to improve the state of live export. Whilst the RSPCA called for all recommendations to be implemented, it maintained the only way to prevent the mistreatment of the livestockwas to have a carcass-only trade.
It was a great disappointment that not all reportrecommendations were adopted, and made the RSCPA even more determined to put a carcass-only trade into operation. We will continue lobbying Government until the legislation changes. The RSPCA encourages you to write to the Prime Minister to voice your disapprovalof the current legislation that allows stock animals to suffer on board ships in often sweltering conditions, for months at a time.
The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The RSPCA refuses to accept there is any reason to keep the live export trade afloat. This trade is inherently cruel; thousands of livestock are forced to spend weeks at a time on board these ships, suffering horrendous conditions with many perishing before they reach their destination. This horrific trade will not be tolerated by the RSPCA.
Don't be fooled into thinking the trade is needed to sustain our economic growth; by changing to a meat-only trade, more jobs will be created across Australia, providing benefits to farmers nationwide. And more importantly, a meat-only trade will ensure that livestock is treated humanely.
The live export of Australian animals should be banned and replaced with a more humane and viable meat-only trade. Australian meat IS acceptable to all our current markets, including the Middle East. There is no reason, moral, cultural or economic, to continue the live export trade.