Across the country, Australians will gather in their thousands at synchronised rallies in capital cities and regional centres, delivering a powerful message that governments can ignore no longer – Live export is a shame on Australia and must end now. This is a National Day of Action to End Live Export and Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) will be out in force on the day to add to the hundreds of voices expected to be present in Hobart.
“If sheep and cattle survive the long and miserable journey by sea, what awaits them is not a kind hand but a frightening place where torture appears to be common practice. Australia is ultimately responsible for this, allowing these creatures to be shipped to their death in South-East Asia and the Middle East. Australians want to see an immediate and permanent end to all live exports, and now is our chance to end Australia’s shame, and end the suffering of millions of non-human animals every year.” said AACT spokesperson Neon Lang.
Sheep frequently die on the long journey of up to three weeks from the stress of being crowded into ships in large numbers resulting in failure to eat, salmonellosis, and trauma. Upon arrival, sheep and cattle endure further transportation, feed-lotting, and handling practices such as dragging, trussing, transport in car boots or on roofs. The routine slaughter method in the majority of importing countries is to cut their throats without pre-stunning.
“Animals Australia Lyn White recently presented footage (aired to the public on Four Corners, 30 May 2011 ) of Australian cattle being tortured in Indonesian slaughterhouses. Some of the footage showed cattle being beaten, having their eyes gouged, tails broken and their throats cut whilst still fully conscious. Past investigations in the Middle East and South-East Asia have exposed cruelty of a similar scale, yet live export still continues.” said Mr Lang.
