Greens demand abattoir update
The delay between reports of animal abuse in Tasmania slaughterhouses and tangible government action has been too long, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff says.
Dr Woodruff called on the government to update the public on what action had been taken in the wake of the release of shocking CCTV footage by animal campaigners.
“It’s been six months now since the farm transparency project activists released disturbing, distressing footage of terrible suffering and harm that’s been caused to animals in slaughterhouses across Tasmania, five separate slaughterhouses, showing systemic practices of cruelty to animals dying in pain, repeated systematic failures to look after animal welfare,” Dr Woodruff said.
“What we should have heard from a good government is immediate action for an investigation, to pause any animal processing in slaughterhouses where there was evidence and to put CCTV cameras in place. That didn’t happen. Instead, minister Jo Palmer at the time, kicked the can down the road and started a report process that we didn’t need.”
Dr Woodruff said an update from the taskforce should have been delivered when parliament was due to resume on March 5, although the election intervened.
She said Tasmanians shouldn’t have to wait.
“We still don’t know what is the taskforce report, what did they find?
“We want a comprehensive update on the investigations that have occurred in abattoirs in the last six months, and the changes to the Animal Welfare Act that we need as a result of that.
“Animals are still dying in slaughterhouses across Tasmania in pain and suffering, because nothing has changed.”
Former minister for primary industries Jo Palmer promised swift action when announcing the Livestock Processing Taskforce on December 19.