MEDIA RELEASE
31 October 2013

Live export regulations failure cause extreme animal cruelty

Following the disturbing ABC Lateline report on the slaughter of sheep in Jordan in contravention of Australian live export regulations Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has said strong regulatory action needs to be taken against the company.

Commenting on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s claims linking avian influenza outbreaks with an increase in free-range egg production, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said Mr Joyce’s actions worked against the interests of the industry as well as belittling animal welfare standards. 

“The claims of the Agriculture Minister are ludicrous and just show what lengths he will go to back the interests of agribusiness,” Senator Rhiannon said. 

Despite being illegal in Australia, sharks are still being caught and having their fins removed before being dumped into the ocean to slowly die.

Inconsistent laws between the Commonwealth States and Territories are undermining efforts to end shark finning.

Shark finning is driven by high prices, which sees the products worth up to 700 times as much as shark meat.

The Australian Greens today announced their animal welfare election priorities as ending live exports and establishing an independent Office of Animal Welfare.

Today, at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton, the Australian Greens announced a costed plan to fund threatened species research, habitat protection and support wildlife carers in Tasmania.

"Across Australia, we're facing an extinction crisis - with more than 20 per cent of our mammal species threatened with extinction," Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said.

Download The Greens 2013 Animal Welfare leaflet

A government report released today into the brutal killing of 20,000 Australian sheep in Pakistan last year which has failed to hold anyone accountable, is another damning example of how the government continues to fail animals in the live export trade.

Commenting on the Rudd government’s plan to increase live cattle exports to Indonesia, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said Labor is out of touch with the majority of Australians who support an end to the export trade in live animals.

“Labor might think they have placated some angry pastoralists with their decision to boost live cattle exports but they are out of step with the majority of Australians who want to see an end to this cruel trade,” Senator Rhiannon said. 

The Australian Greens have called on the Minister for Agriculture to fast-track the long overdue review of the Poultry National Model Code of Practice, following a Federal Court decision that Steggles producer Baiada was guilty of misleading claims that its chickens were 'free to roam' despite cramped living conditions.

"Successive Agriculture Ministers have dragged their feet for seven years on the review of the Poultry Model Code of Practice", said Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon.