New Middle East investigation exposes Live Export industry’s lies
11 October 2007
An undercover investigation in the Middle East has resulted in further shocking images of widespread cruelty towards Australian and other livestock being filmed.
The investigation by Animals Australia (its fourth into the region) was in response to the live export industry’s ongoing defence of the controversial trade, in particular a recent public statement by Cameron Hall, the CEO of LiveCorp, which controls the trade. Mr Hall stated (in a letter to the Adelaide Advertiser on August 13th 2007) that Australian animals in the Middle East "are in almost all cases slaughtered humanely".
During last month’s operation (funded by the internationally respected UK-based Marchig Animal Welfare Trust) two Animals Australia investigators traveled to Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Jordan. Their extensive footage shows Australian sheep at major slaughterhouses being trussed with rope and dragged into abattoirs to then have their throats cut whilst fully conscious.
"LiveCorp and Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran’s claims that the majority of Australian animals are handled and slaughtered humanely in the Middle East reveal they’re out of touch with both reality and with community views," said Animals Australia’s Executive Director Glenys Oogjes.
"Australians consider it cruel and unacceptable to slaughter animals whilst they are fully conscious, which is exactly what Australian animals endure throughout the Middle East."
Footage obtained in Kuwait’s Shuwaikh abattoir, which has been previously highlighted to the live export industry and Minister McGauran for cruel treatment of Australian sheep, graphically reveals industry claims of improvements to be without any substance. Australian sheep can be seen landing on their backs after being pushed off trucks and then dragged into the abattoir where they are slaughtered whilst conscious.
"Meat and Livestock Australia claimed that the four day workshop they held in Kuwait (after footage obtained by Animals Australia aired in 2004) was a success," Ms Oogjes said.
"Yet the treatment of animals documented at this same abattoir, three years after the initial investigation, shows that the situation has in fact worsened.
"These investigations confirm the Australian live export industry’s culpability in the cruel treatment of all animals in the Middle East. Not only is the industry subjecting Australian animals to this treatment but - as a result of this trade continuing – millions of people throughout the region believe this extreme cruelty is acceptable to Western countries."
"The only way to dispel this belief is by not continuing to send Australian animals over there. Whilst we are still prepared to ship livestock halfway around the world to be slaughtered we are showing that animals and their welfare are of no importance to us.
"Every major animal welfare organisation around the world opposes the export of live animals on the grounds of unacceptable suffering.
"Australians are totally sickened by this trade and they’re sick of being treated like fools by this industry and by the Howard government.
"Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran and the Howard government know this trade is wrong. They know the level of suffering is extreme and widespread.
"They are making a very big mistake, politically and morally, if they keep supporting this shameful export industry."
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