Economy
Sledgehammered to death …
Sledgehammered to death. Butchered alive. It’s happened again. This time Vietnam ( ABC: Australian cattle’ being bludgeoned to death in Vietnam sparks Government investigation ).
Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison is trying again for a ban on live exports after these latest revelations.
He has already made five legislative attempts to ban or restrict live exports and says he will continue to work to end the trade.
As he says …
“Live exports are systematically cruel, not in Australia’s economic self-interest and lack popular support,’’ he said.
“Last night on ABC TV’s 7.30, Australians witnessed more brutal and sickening treatment of Australian livestock in overseas torture chambers. In slaughter houses in Vietnam, Animals Australia has more evidence of Australian cattle being sledgehammered to death, butchered alive and subjected to forced water injection to increase sale weight.
“The Australian Government and its Minister for Cruelty, Barnaby Joyce, should hang their heads in shame.
“Over and over again it’s been shown regulation has failed. Yet Barnaby Joyce continues to turn a blind eye to this barbaric treatment and actually celebrates every growth in this vile trade. It’s time to ban live exports once and for all.’’
Despite countless episodes of cruelty, the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System introduced five years ago to regulate the trade had resulted in not one live export company facing prosecution or having their export licence suspended.
“It’s a toothless tiger,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
Mr Wilkie called on the Department of Agriculture to immediately suspend all export permits to Vietnam. “The Department is only meant to grant export permits if it’s satisfied regulations will be complied with,’’ he said.
“This latest display of cruelty is a clear case to suspend the export of livestock to Vietnam.’’
Could not agree more …
EARLIER on Tasmanian Times …