Cruelty not always a crime

ANIMAL WELFARE

WELL founded is the disgust expressed by letter-writers regarding the wallaby left to die having been wounded by an arrow. Equally there should be disgust at the hundreds of native animals assigned to a slow and painful death from the use of the nefarious 1080 poison. The Liberal State Government has been too weak to ban the use of this poison as a method of controlling wildlife, and a high level of cruelty continues to be inflicted on native animals. Anyone who doubts this should take a walk in the areas where the poison has ben laid but be prepared for the confronting sight of wallabies and other animals writhing blindly around in agony as the poison takes effect. Cruelty to animals is a crime? Only sometimes it seems. Ban the use of this poison. thousands of animals into the Gulf summer in the same conditions that sparked outrage from ordinary Australians. Electoral offices have been flooded with calls and emails asking for this industry to be banned, including from farmers asking to have the choice to ensure animals are not exported live once sold to agents.

The Australian Veterinary Association is requesting no summer voyages and a phase-out of the industry. Seems clear most Australians are compassionate folk who abhor what they have seen . . . enough science to convince the voting public. Beware Liberals how many of us you ignore.

Band-aid solutions

LIVE exports should be banned and their barbaric cruel fate stopped. Band-aid solutions do not allay people’s disgust. Our animals are special and deserve proper dignity and care. It’s all about a few maintaining their lavish lifestyles and having extra dollars in the bank. If New Zealand can do away with it so can we. We must humanely kill and pack our livestock here and ship stocks around the world in a manner that pleases God. If Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t act efficiently, the next government will.

Humane transport

IN any business, the objective is to deliver the product in the best possible condition, with the lowest possible wastage. The livestock export industry is no different: an animal landed in the best condition gets A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. the best price, a miserable animal gets a miserable price, a dead animal gets nothing. In 1984, I was working for a Saudi company. We took pride in delivering our livestock in good condition. We had losses, certainly, but our sheep, typically, would be shipped weighing around 47kg, and be landed at over 50. Couldn’t have been subjected to too much systemic cruelty. Back then, Australian regulations said if a ship sustained a mortality rate of 2 per cent she would not get a permit to load again until there had been an investigation. The ship we ran never got near 2 per cent. On the voyage that sparked the present furore, the Awassi Express lost around 4 per cent! Obviously, something went very wrong. A properly regulated livestock trade can be both humane and viable.

Punishment not enough

AT long last, the RSPCA will increase the shock factor of their animal cruelty advertisements in Victoria. This should be an Australia-wide push. To reinforce these advertisements, the punishment meted out also needs to increase in severity. I am gobsmacked that a person can shoot a starving dog in the head, cable tie its legs and leave it crying in the bush to die a horrid death. The fine of $7500 and a 10-year ban from animal ownership is hardly a deterrent. If a human being is found guilty of doing a similar thing to another person, forget the fine, they spend considerable time in gaol. In our sophisticated society, is there a difference between animal and human cruelty? Please explain.

Boiling frogs

EXCELLENT article by Simon Bevilacqua ( Mercury, June 9). I also think about how receptive we are to intrusion into our private lives. It’s the boiled-frog effect. If you throw a frog into boiling water it jumps for its life, but if you put the frog in cold water and heat it, it will sit there until it’s boiled alive. Welcome to our Orwellian world.

Fish whispering

FORGET horse whispering, and dog, too. Fish whispering is the big one just now. If you listen to the fish you’ll know the best time of day to catch a feed. Recently salmon chanted “evening”.

Pick your poison

SO it’s illegal to sell, buy or smoke e-cigarettes because they are classed as dangerous poison because they contain nicotine. But it’s fine to buy, sell or smoke cigarettes. Sounds about right, the government has a foot on each side of the fence.

Crowded

IF they had played the GWS-Gold Coast game in Tasmania at either venue they would have got a much better crowd. Got to tell you something, Gill.

Crossing swords

ARE you sure that’s a cross on the waterfront? I thought it was a sword. You know Mona likes to “stick it to yuh”.