More than 1500 sheep died across these voyages collectively from heat
stress, injury or disease – which was nevertheless under the official
“reportable mortality” rate.
The government has extended by a year the time it is giving exporters with old ships to continue with sub-standard conditions for sheep carried to the Middle East.
Michael McCormack on Barnaby’s future, latte sippers and other matters
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In this interview Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack pointedly avoids saying Joyce should run again in his New England seat at the election.
In choosing not to ban the live export trade even in the hottest northern months, the federal government is allowing animals to be put in conditions where they cannot possibly escape suffering.
The submission recommends an increase in the space allocation for each animal of at least 30% for sheep weighing 40-60 kilograms – the weight range of the typical sheep sent to the Middle East.
On Friday the Agriculture department announced it had suspended the supply of sheep to a Qatar abattoir after seeing footage provided by Animals Australia.
It doesn’t need a review to tell you that for the sheep these voyages - even when they go better than this one did - are hell, whatever “standards” are imposed.
With animal welfare issues routinely handled by Senate committees with strong links to agriculture, how can we ensure that those outside the industry are being properly listened to?
After the 2011 live export crisis, Australia brought in rules designed to keep animals in accredited abattoirs. But with breaches widespread, there is little evidence that the rules are being policed.
Indonesia’s shock decision to cut imports of Australian beef signals two things: Indonesia’s desire to focus on domestic cattle farming, and Australia’s lack of alternative options for exporting its own herd.