End to live exports

Tannum Sands.

Before the federal election in 2019 Labor promised to phase out the live sheep export trade over five years. They went to the election in May 2022 with a commitment to end the live sheep trade (but no timeline). The PM Anthony Albanese has now ruled out phasing live sheep exports within his first term of government and made it very clear that the party has no plan to end the export of buffalo, cattle and goats, which are also exported live for slaughter offshore. He insists his government needs to consult with sheep farmers and the Western Australian government before committing to a timeline to end sheep exports. Perhaps they should have had these discussions before giving any commitment? When expressing support for live cattle exports there is reference to shorter voyages and lower mortality rates. The cattle currently travelling from Fremantle to Kuwait on board the Al Kuwait, which has a mixed cargo of sheep and cattle, might question that. Hopefully there will be few mortalities, but that does not mean animals are not suffering. Once landed both species will be at risk of having their throats cut while fully conscious, as ESCAS does not mandate pre-slaughter stunning. New Zealand, which banned live

exports for slaughter in 2007, will end all live exports by sea in April, 2023 after a two-year transition period with Minister of Agriculture Damien O’connor claiming the move will protect New Zealand’s reputation for world-leading animal welfare standards. If the Kiwis can do this why can’t we?

JENNY BROWN, TALE – Townsville Against Live Export Douglas