Media release – Jane Howlett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, 15 May 2024
Livestock Processing Taskforce working with Government to strengthen animal welfare
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has taken decisive action to improve animal welfare in the State’s livestock processing facilities.
Releasing the Tasmanian Livestock Processing Taskforce’s Interim Report today, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said while the Parliamentary motion passed last year may have lapsed, the Government’s commitment to improving animal welfare outcomes remained steadfast.
“Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future we have acted to boost animal welfare by legislating mandatory video surveillance in all Tasmanian livestock processing establishments by June of this year and providing funding of $3.2 million over four years for the RSPCA,” Minister Howlett said.
“Biosecurity Tasmania has undertaken unannounced visits to all 20 of the State’s abattoirs and knackeries, as well as routine inspections of all facilities.
“But an enduring animal welfare culture is more than just video monitoring and that’s why the ongoing work of the Taskforce is so important.
“The Taskforce will continue to develop guidelines for all aspects of livestock processing, including design, operation and maintenance of facilities and equipment, as well as pre-slaughter care and handling.
“I am committed to getting this right for our producers, our important livestock industry and the jobs and family businesses the industry supports.”
The Government Response and the Taskforce’s Interim Report can be found here.
The final Taskforce Report and recommendations are expected to be presented to the Government in the coming months.
Media release – Animal Liberation Tasmania, 15 May 2024
Animal Liberation Tasmania condemns interim report
Following the release of the Tasmanian Livestock Processing Taskforce, Animal Liberation Tasmania can only express our utter dissatisfaction but also our lack of surprise over its contents.
Promised to be made public by March this year, but conveniently delayed by the calling of an early election, it has taken nearly 6 months for the taskforce to achieve nothing.
A handful of unannounced visits by inspectors, who upon arrival at the five facilities are hardly likely to witness any poor handling or unstunned slaughter. The mandating of CCTV cameras which most of the exposed facilities already had in place, which will not be independently monitored, and the presence of which did not alert management to either the egregious cruelty taking place nor the repeated presence of animal activists undertaking their own independent audits. And references to “ongoing investigations” when all five facilities are still operating.
And no mention of the nearly half a million dollars granted to one of the worst repeat offenders, Tasmanian Quality Meats, to expand their capacity to slaughter tens of thousands of week old dairy calves.
A week ago nearly 1000 individuals took up our call for action and joined an email campaign, contacting Rockliff and Howlett demanding this funding be revoked and condemning the months long delay in the taskforce report being handed down. These concerned members of the public received no response. The government is committed to rewarding exploitation and cruelty with taxpayer dollars.
If this is how the government intends to act on these five cases moving forwards, then it is apparent that should another independent audit be undertaken by activists in the future, the exact same cruelties will be exposed yet again.
Animal Liberation Tasmania will continue to inform the public and encourage them to apply the necessary pressure, for the animals trembling on kill floors across the state.
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson, 15 May 2024
Slaughterhouse Taskforce Report Deeply Underwhelming
The report released by the government’s slaughterhouse taskforce today is deeply underwhelming and shows again the Liberals’ lack of concern for the rights of animals.
This taskforce was set up after horrific footage of Tasmanian slaughterhouses was released by animal activists six months ago. Despite having all this time to act, and the hand wringing of Liberal politicians, Tasmanian animals are still no safer from systemic cruelty.
Brave animal activists hid secret cameras inside five slaughterhouses last year, and in all five they found evidence of terrible cruelty towards animals. What action has been taken against these facilities? The only major change we’ve seen is half a million dollars of taxpayer money awarded to one of them.
While the Rockliff minority government has finally bowed to long-term pressure from the Greens and advocates to put mandatory video surveillance in slaughterhouses, the devil is in the detail. The way the Liberals have set up this surveillance largely relies on the industry to self-monitor and allows slaughterhouse operators to delete footage within just 30 days.
The truth is this taskforce was created for the sole purpose of delaying and denying any real change in slaughterhouse operations. We’ve always said it was a flawed process. The interim report clearly shows that’s the case.
As always, this is a case of Liberal politicians being more focused on protecting the profits of big corporations than they are on doing what is right.
Animals in Tasmania deserve so much better.
