Demand CCTV in all slaughterhouses

UPDATE February 9th 2012 -- A Sydney abattoir has been closed by the NSW Food Authority after receiving video footage from Animal Liberation NSW showing acts of gross animal mistreatment involving sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. The slaughterhouse is now under investigation involving the RSPCA.

On Thursday November 24th 2011, the Victorian authorities closed down an abattoir in Gippsland after Animals Australia provided footage of animal welfare breaches inside the facility. In just 90 minutes enough evidence of cruelty was captured of the final moments of a group of young pigs to have this abattoir's license withdrawn permanently.

Sadly, the nature of slaughterhouses is that animals will always experience fear and will suffer within their walls. Much of the deliberate cruelty inflicted on these animals was illegal, yet the failure of the auditing process allowed it to occur. The tragic final moments for this group of pigs serves as a wake up call that despite Australia's regulated abattoir system, without a watchful eye animals are at risk of even graver cruelty.

The UK Government is already considering the compulsory installation of CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses to help reduce breaches of animal protection laws.

Please call on your state meat authority and on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS - responsible for monitoring export slaughterhouses), to establish greater accountability of slaughter practices by requiring inspectors to install and monitor CCTV cameras in all abattoirs.

(Note for ACT residents: There are no slaughterhouses in the ACT. The majority of ACT's meat supply comes from NSW slaughtering facilities, therefore your message will automatically be sent to the NSW Food Authority.)

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Subject: (please enter a subject line) Dear Decision Maker, (please edit the letter below, or send as-is) I am contacting you regarding the cruel treatment of pigs documented in an abattoir in Gippsland and more recently a range of animals in a Sydney slaughterhouse. I was distressed to learn that this terrible suffering was happening in Australian abattoirs. It brought back the memory of the treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesian slaughterhouses that was condemned by all caring Australians. I am grateful for the swift action of food authorities in both Victoria and New South Wales to stop operations at these abattoirs. However, that such abuse can occur in Australian slaughterhouses is proof that monitoring of standards in slaughterhouses must be improved urgently. I therefore urge you to establish greater accountability and monitoring of slaughter practices by installing CCTV cameras in all abattoirs and by allowing independent third party auditing of the CCTV footage and practices within these facilities. Sincerely, Your Name

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