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Cruelty Still Rampant at Gretna Meatworks
Media release – Farm Transparency Project, 30 January 2024
Cruelty still rampant at infamous Tasmanian slaughterhouse, seven years on
Farm Transparency Project has released footage from the fifth and final slaughterhouse investigated by the group in September 2023, Gretna Meatworks (formerly Gretna Quality Meats). The footage, which was captured using covert cameras installed by the group while trespassing at the property, shows the slaughter of sheep, cows, pigs and goats, and reveals a high frequency of animals being roughly handled and ineffectively stunned by workers.
Gretna was previously exposed by Animal Liberation in 2016, with the release of footage showing similar violations of state and federal regulations, and pronounced animal suffering. At the time, multiple calls were made for the facility to be shut down immediately in light of the evidence of animal cruelty, however it was ultimately cleared to continue operating.
Executive Director of Farm Transparency Project, Chris Delforce, was involved in both the 2016 and 2023 investigations. He says that it doesn’t surprise him in the slightest that nothing has changed.
“When we released the footage in 2016, there was widespread public outrage and national media coverage. People felt sure that such brutality wouldn’t be allowed to continue unaddressed yet, ultimately, no action was taken either by the facility or the government. Ultimately, its a lot easier for the bodies that regulate and license these places to take no action, and they’ve shown time and time again that they’re willing to turn a blind eye to systemic animal suffering.”
Delforce says that this pattern of government refusing to take meaningful action in response to evidence of animal abuse is repeating itself yet again.
“What we saw back in 2016, is the same response that we’re seeing today. Animal cruelty will be condemned and new measures will be announced, but nothing will be done and eventually people will forget. This new footage from Gretna is a damning indictment of that attitude. Thousands and thousands of animals have suffered because the government refused to step in and address these issues last time by suspending Gretna’s license to operate. We can only hope that, seven years on from when Gretna should have been shut down, the only adequate course of action is finally taken and the facility is ordered to immediately close, along with the four others where we have exposed severe animal cruelty and breaches or state and federal regulation.”
All footage captured by Farm Transparency Project in Tasmanian slaughterhouses was provided in full to the Tasmanian government in November last year.
Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, 30 January 2024
Stamping out animal cruelty in state’s abattoirs
The Tasmanian Liberal Government demands the highest standards of animal welfare in all our livestock processing operations.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer said this Government will accept no less.
“Significant work is underway to improve animal welfare outcomes in livestock processing, particularly in our abattoirs,” Minister Palmer said.
“Biosecurity Tasmania immediately commenced an investigation when the footage was first provided in November last year.
“The footage has been reviewed by qualified animal welfare experts, including the Department’s veterinarians.
“The footage has been discussed with the operators and a number of employees, together with facility owners, have also been interviewed, informing further inspections and lines of inquiry.
A detailed investigation is ongoing into the five premises shown in the footage and it is not appropriate for further comments to be made on the investigation at this stage.
“But I can advise that inspections, and unannounced visits into other processing facilities continue to be undertaken by Biosecurity Tasmania,” Minister Palmer said.
The Tasmanian Government has also committed to make video surveillance mandatory in every processing facility.
“The Taskforce that I established in late 2023 and includes representation from the RSPCA, TasFarmers, Sprout, Dairy Tas and the Australian Meat Industry Council, is looking into regulatory mechanisms that will enable video surveillance to be mandated as a priority,” Minister Palmer said.
“Biosecurity is looking at what legislative changes will be required to make video surveillance mandatory. This work will also consider the conditions of video surveillance, including viewing and quality requirements.”
A Reference Group has also been established with industry to support the introduction of changes.
“Felicity Richards chaired the first meeting of the Reference Group last week and the practicalities of the introduction of video surveillance into even the smallest facilities was discussed at length,” Minister Palmer said.
“I am advised that all but around nine of the abattoirs, slaughterhouses and knackeries in Tasmania have voluntarily installed video surveillance in their facilities,” Minister Palmer said.
“This Taskforce is developing a new Tasmanian standard, guidelines and a strategy to achieve strong animal welfare practices and meet the expectations of both the Tasmanian livestock processing industry and the community.”
The Taskforce is meeting fortnightly, with the next meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 30 January 2024
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Appalling new footage of Gretna Meatworks released by Farm Transparency Project has yet again highlighted the systemic and illegal cruelty occurring in Tasmanian slaughterhouses.
FTP installed cameras in five slaughterhouses, and every single one of them has shown serious and systemic cruel practices occurring. We are deeply concerned at the high likelihood of similar issues across other slaughterhouses.
These are serious concerns, and we’ve written twice to Minister Jo Palmer about the critical need for CCTV footage from all other Tasmanian slaughterhouses to be seized and reviewed. Disturbingly the Minister has not only failed to act, she’s also not even bothered to reply.
Clearly this Minister is more interested in protecting the profits than protecting the rights of animals.