Dear Prime Minister …

Dear Prime Minister,

Your government promised Australians that it accepted ALL recommendations in Michael McCarthy’s review into live sheep export. But we now learn that the most crucial recommendation – to ban the summer live trade from July 1 this year – has not been adopted. (“Revealed: Live exports review recommended an immediate ban.” The Sun-Herald – June 3)

Mr Littleproud now says that he couldn’t “in good conscience” implement recommendation four “on businesses”. And yet he can, in good conscience, condemn more sheep to the same sickening suffering we witnessed on the Awassi. Clearly, the welfare of farm animals must be removed from his department and given to an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.

Dr Jones, RSPCA, says: “Had the integrity of this review not been compromised through political intervention, these summer shipments would not be departing.”
So, who in our government signed off on this duplicitous manipulation of the truth, that so shamefully misled and betrayed the Australian people? – Did you Mr Turnbull?

Of course, the trade can still be halted before the northern summer. All it takes is to remove the politics from an industry in its death throes.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,
Cheryl Forrest-Smith
Mona Vale, NSW
Cheryl Forrest-Smith