Andrew Wilkie: The callousness in the live export industry

The Federal Department of Agriculture has released a report after an inquiry into the cruel deaths of over 4,100 sheep in 2013 aboard the vessel Bader III en route to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The official report, triggered because the mortality rate was over two and half times higher than the mandatory reportable level, found the cause of death was due to heat stress. The Department recommended sheep be given 10 percent extra space on future voyages.

The report’s findings demonstrate yet another failure of our live export industry and the recommendations show how little compassion the Government has for our animals.

Imposing additional conditions and relying on self-regulation is simply not good enough.

The Government needs to act in the best interest of the animals, and the industry, by revoking export licenses where companies are found to be in serious or repetitive breach of animal welfare standards.

This recent report is one of many highlighting the ongoing failure of the system.

Live export is systemically cruel, not in Australia’s economic self-interest and contrary to Australian public opinion.

The report is available here: http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/2364213/mortality-investigation-report-46.pdf
Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Denison