Live Cattle Trade from Australia to Indonesia Suspended
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Animals Australia
June 2011

[Ed. Note: The graphic images of Australian cattle being so violently tortured and killed in Indonesia were so powerful that national meat consumption apparently dropped 10-15 percent in one week throughout Australia. People DO NOW KNOW what activists know. Keep educating and informing and inspiring people to go vegan and END these disgustingly horrific industries.]

The graphic images of Australian cattle having their tails broken, tendons slashed, eyes gouged, whipped, and kicked will never be forgotten. Neither will the culpability of Meat and Livestock Australia, which was revealed to have known of the atrocities in Indonesia for more than a decade. Such was the loss in faith in Meat and Livestock Australia and the live export trade that national meat consumption was reported to have dropped by 10 - 15% in one week.

After eight days of intense public pressure following the exposure of horrendous cruelty documented by Animals Australia investigators, the Gillard Government has announced a suspension on the live cattle trade to Indonesia.

A little more than a week ago, shockwaves were sent across Australia as Four Corners aired the results of Animals Australia's most recent live export investigation — this time in Indonesia.

"After seven years of documenting appalling treatment to exported Australian animals in the Middle East, I didn't think I would ever witness worse treatment — sadly I couldn't have been more wrong." said Animals Australia Campaign Director and Investigator, Lyn White.

The graphic images of Australian cattle having their tails broken, tendons slashed, eyes gouged, whipped, and kicked will never be forgotten. Neither will the culpability of Meat and Livestock Australia, which was revealed to have known of the atrocities in Indonesia for more than a decade. Such was the loss in faith in Meat and Livestock Australia and the live export trade that national meat consumption was reported to have dropped by 10 - 15% in one week.

The massive public outcry following the exposé eclipsed the backlash of almost any other political issue in Australian history. Within one week over 200,000 people signed an online petition, over 100,000 Animals Australia and RSPCA Australia supporters had written to the Prime Minister at BanLiveExport.com, and countless politicians were adding additional pressure on the Government to act by speaking out against the brutal trade — many for the first time.

The announcement of the suspension on the live cattle trade to Indonesia is a welcome step towards ending the horrific abuse inflicted on exported animals that were born into Australian care and protection. However, only a complete ban on live animal exports to all countries will ensure that these images are not repeated, and also ensure that Australia sends the strongest possible message to other countries that animals, and their welfare, matters. Animals Australia will continue to campaign rigorously for millions more animals who are destined to be shipped to slaughter in countries where there are no laws to protect them from cruelty.

On June 20th, 2011, historic private members bills to completely phase out the cruel live trade will be submitted to federal parliament by independents Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon and another by the Australian Greens. These bills represent the animals' best chance for an end to a trade that has willingly sent millions of animals to a cruel fate for the past 30 years.

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