The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, said:

“I’m beyond asking how many more episodes of animal cruelty are needed before the Australian Government shuts down the live export trade,” Mr Wilkie said.

“The Government simply doesn’t care about the trade being systemically cruel, not being in Australia’s economic self-interest and lacking popular support.

“The latest episode in Jordan shows again the cruelty routinely metered out to Australian livestock sent overseas. It joins a very long list of exposé‎s by Animal Australia and others in countries as diverse as Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan and of course repeatedly in Indonesia.

“In this case the Government must identify the Australian exporter and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

“To allow the trade to continue in the full knowledge that it is systemically cruel makes the Australian Government every bit as guilty as any individual found guilty in Australia of cruelty to animals.

“I remain committed to progress a Private Member’s Bill in the new Parliament to wind up the trade.”
Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Denison