Supporters of the campaign to bring about an end to live animal exports will be rallying outside Parliament House on Tuesday 22nd June at 1pm.

Michelle MacKenzie, a Committee Member and volunteer with Stop Live Exports, will be presenting the petition signed by thousands of Western Australians to Lynn MacLaren, MLC for the South Metropolitan Region, who will then present it to State Parliament.

Ms MacLaren said "In the last shipment that left Fremantle for Egypt, in a so-called 'flagship' livestock vessel, hundreds of animals died en route. One can only imagine the suffering of thousands more. This is not humane, this is not best practice and this is not how Australia should be treating its animals" she said. Michelle MacKenzie from Stop Live Exports said “This petition represents the many West Australian's who believe this trade should be phased out". "Not only are live exports cruel to animals, but they don’t make economic sense either". "Recent reports show that a sheep processed domestically is worth 20% more to the Australian economy than one exported live, due to the capacity to value add in Australia".

"Added to that, many West Australians are losing their jobs in the processing sector. Live exports are sending animals overseas that could be processed here", she said.

She also said, "This isn’t about a city/country divide, ending live exports will have a positive effect on developing jobs and industry in regional communities".The City of Fremantle recently adopted a policy position stating that live exports should be phased out in favour of the more economically viable chilled meat trade. The City of Fremantle joins other leaders in Fremantle who believe the trade should be phased out, including Fremantle MP, Melissa Parke.

Lynn MacLaren said "Opposition to this cruel trade cuts across party political lines and is championed by elected members at local, state and federal levels. We will continue to work together to put an end to live animal exports. If exporters think that throwing money into PR campaigns will make the problem go away, I suggest they brush up on the meaning of democracy."

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

A historic decision was made last night by the City of Fremantle to support a phase out of live exports.

More than 80 per cent of the nearly 4 million Australian sheep exported in 2006 were loaded through the port of Fremantle (ABARE Feb 2008). Fremantle Council has a right to reflect resident's concerns with the inhumanity of this trade, joining Greens Member for South East Metropolitan, Lynn MacLaren and Federal Labour Member for Fremantle, Melissa Parke in opposing live exports.

Brad Pettitt, Mayor of Fremantle said, "The time has come for this cruel and unnecessary live sheep trade to be phased out and replaced with a trade that supports local jobs".

Brad Pettitt also said: "This motion is not designed to move the trade south from Fremantle to Kwinana. We want it stopped all together and replaced with the less cruel and better economic outcome of frozen meat".

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports said "We welcome Fremantle Council taking this strong stance against live exports. There are many animal welfare concerns with this trade, and despite industry claims, very little improvements to animal welfare have been made".

"Not only are live exports cruel, but they don’t make economic sense either". "Recent reports released show that a sheep processed domestically is worth 20% more to the Australian economy than one exported live, due to the capacity to value add in Australia".

"Added to that, many West Australians are losing their jobs in the processing sector. Live export are sending animals overseas that would normally be processed here", she said.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

Local Fremantle group, Stop Live Exports are appalled at the news that 263 cattle have died on board the Ocean Shearer, which was bound for Egypt.

This is the first shipment to Egypt in 3 years after the Australian Government suspended the trade because of
cruelty concerns. The trade in sheep is still banned. Jodie Jankevics, Stop Live Exports Campaign Manager said “Animals already suffer from heat stress, failure to eat and diseases whilst being transported, but because of delays in loading of this shipment at Fremantle Port and delays whilst at sea, these animals would have suffered even more”.

“Unfortunately, nothing can be done to make this a humane trade. We can see from this incident that there
were significant losses on this vessel, despite it being heralded as one of Wellard’s flagship vessels”.

“Let’s not forget the animals that didn’t die on board”, said Ms Jankevics. “Animals are subject to handling and slaughter methods in Egypt would be illegal in Australia. The cattle will be slaughtered at a new facility at AL Sokhna, Egypt and will have their throats cut whilst they are fully conscious, taking up to 2 minutes to lose consciousness”.

“This is all whilst West Australian’s are losing their jobs in abattoirs because of stock shortages”. “When the
trade in live animals to Egypt was suspended, they simply took our chilled products instead” said Ms Jankevics.

A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has confirmed an
investigation will be launched into the cause of deaths of the cattle.

Delays in Loading at Fremantle Port:
The MV Ocean Shearer commenced loading cattle on 19th February, but did not depart til 23rd February 2010.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

In a backward step for animal welfare, the live animal trade to Egypt has been reopened after a 3 year hiatus.This week, West Australian company Wellards Rural Exports sent 16,500 cattle from Fremantle Port to be subjected to a method of slaughter which would be illegal if it were performed in Australia.

The cattle will be slaughtered at a new facility at AL Sokhna, Egypt, where they will be immobilised in a restraint box which will rotate them 140 degrees before an operator cuts their throats whilst they are fully conscious. Cattle can take up to 2 minutes to lose consciousness after the throat cut, causing them immense suffering.

The live animal trade was previously suspended on welfare grounds in February 2006 when the then Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran, responded to public outrage over a report aired on '60 Minutes'. The report showed fully conscious cattle having their tendons slashed and eyes stabbed in Cairo’s Bassateen abattoir. They were then slaughtered in a slow and cruel manner.

However, Mr McGauran bowed to pressure from live exporters and agreed in October 2006 Australia could continue exporting cattle to Egypt provided certain welfare requests were met.

However, following the first shipment of animals in November 2006, animal welfare activists from Australia and the UK gathered evidence that the Australia’s welfare requests had no impact whatsoever on an abattoir on the other side of the world. Australia welfare requests were routinely breached and cattle were still being treated slaughtered in the same cruel manner as before.

The live export industry responded to public pressure and the poor publicity caused by the Egyptian abattoir footage and chose not to send cattle to Egypt in 2007, 2008 and 2009 – until this week.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports has condemned the re-opening of the live cattle trade to Egypt. "If these cattle were slaughtered in Australia in the way they are slaughtered in Egypt, the perpetrator would quite rightly go to prison. The live exporters are just as culpable for sending these animals to Egypt in full knowledge of how they will be treated".

"The Australian government is completely out of touch with community values on this issue. Nobody likes animal cruelty but our Agriculture Ministers are actively supporting this cruel trade. Worse, this trade comes at the expense of what the Meat Workers Union estimates to be 20,000 Australian jobs".

"We anticipate that the live trade will again be an election issue this year".

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

Local Fremantle group Stop Live Exports has denied claims of high animal welfare standards in the live export industry made by Michael Finucan of Meat and Livestock Australia in last week’s article, Sheep Claims Denied, 17th November.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports, said “Mr Finucan is incorrect when he says that live exports are regulated: the state and federal governments have left the industry to self-regulate. There is virtually no enforcement of the legislation whatsoever".

“From what we see on trucks, at the sale yards and at Fremantle Port, the industry can’t even comply with Australian Federal and State laws, let alone influence what happens in another country”.

“The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) are rarely present at the port, and they leave it to state regulators to enforce animal welfare, who are severely under-resourced and are hardly ever available to monitor shipments. The overwhelming majority of individual sheep are not inspected for their fitness to load at any time from source to wharf. We regularly see sheep, who are completely unfit to load, going up the loading ramp. While Mr Finucan claims that a vet accompanies most shipments, he fails to mention that this vet is responsible for the impossible task of monitoring up to 100,000 animals on board the ship and is in the employ of the exporter”.

No amount of window dressing can make this a humane industry. Around 35,000 sheep fall down dead on board these ships each year of problems such as heat stress and failure to eat. In addition to this countless animals arrive in the Middle East blinded by salt spray and in very poor health. They are then subjected to poor handling, a slow and painful death, without stunning, usually by having their throats slit.

The Australian Government recently banned live sheep exports to Egypt, yet similar practices occur in other countries and it should be banned completely. The worst time for our animals is during the Festival of Sacrifice which begins this week.

If the industry was concerned about animal welfare it would slaughter animals humanely in Australia and send the sheep over to the Middle East as frozen carcasses.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

Sheep truck driver Mr Graeme Laird, who appeared in Midland Magistrates Court yesterday, pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty under the Western Australian Animal Welfare Act. It is alleged that Mr Laird failed to provide assistance to a sheep who had two broken legs. The sheep was likely to have broken its legs while being transported on Mr Laird's truck to the Midland Sale Yards. Mr Laird unloaded sheep from his truck into pens at the Midland Sale Yards. It is alleged that Mr Laird abandoned the severely injured sheep in a pen rather than seek any kind of assistance for the sheep. Mr Laird has been charged with being cruel to an animal by causing an animal to suffer harm which could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.

The prosecution will show that there is a sign in the Midland Sale Yards that lists phone numbers and contact details in the event of an animal welfare emergency. An Animal Welfare Inspector from the Department of Local Government found the abandoned sheep while she carried out an inspection. She arranged for the Midland Police to kill the sheep.

“It was fortunate that an Animal Welfare Inspector happened to be at the right place at the right time," said Jodie Jankevics, the Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports. "We understand that if the Inspector had not found this sheep it may well have been left at the sale yards over night and could have died of shock".

“This case shows the need for compulsory training in the industry on appropriate ways of handling animals. Poor animal handling practices are very common on trucks and in sale yards. There are still some people driving livestock trucks who believe that it is acceptable to treat an animal in this way”.

"The Animal Welfare Unit at the Department of Local Government plays a vital role in the monitoring of animal welfare in this state. Unfortunately they are seriously under-resourced and we call on the State Government to take their responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act seriously and provide more financial assistance to this Government department”, she said.

The case against Graeme Laird will be before the court on 31 December 2009. The nature of his defence is
unknown.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

Fremantle based group, Stop Live Exports has welcomed the decision to fine a grazier $120,000 for animal cruelty, after 120 cattle died or ended up being destroyed after being transported from the Northern Territory.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaigns Manager for Stop Live Exports says “This sends a clear message to all involved with stock transport, that animals must be fit to load”. “We welcome this fine, and hope that it sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated”.

A transport company and a drover are due to appear later this month in Camooweal Magistrates Court on related charges. This latest fine comes after a driver was fined $5,000 and placed on a 3 year good behaviour bond in the Northern Territory in September 2008 when around 300 goats died en route there. In a case in Perth in August 2008, a driver was fined $2,500 and banned from contact with sheep for one year after he was found guilty of animal cruelty.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports said “These recent cases certainly set a precedent and clearly shows the need for compulsory training in the industry on appropriate ways of handling animals”. Without this, unfortunately these types of incidents will continue”.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

News today that another abattoir has closed in Western Australia costing 42 jobs in already harsh economic times has come as no surprise to local group, Stop Live Exports.

“The live animal export trade has been a main contributor to the closing down of many abattoirs, which in turn costs valuable jobs in Western Australia”, says Jodie Jankevics, Stop Live Exports Campaign Manager. “One of the reasons cited for the closure of the Waroona abattoir is lack of stock which is going into the live export market”.

Graeme Haynes of the WA Branch of the Meat Workers Union said “It is regrettable to see yet another
processor closing. Access to quality stock is the issue as live exports continue to drive out the chilled meat
industry”.

“What we should be doing is investing in jobs and infrastructure in Australia to send the meat chilled rather than live. That way we also avoid all the issues involved with an inherently cruel industry”, said Jodie Jankevics. “Lets face it, in these times, we need to be doing all we can to create and keep jobs in Australia”

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
Stop Live Exports
0428 767 005
pacat@iinet.net.au

Yesterday live animal exporter Graham Daws lost his fight to oppose the public release of an Australian
Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) investigation report which audited some of the exporter’s high
mortality shipments.

The AQIS report was produced after a series of three high-mortality shipments between August and November 2005. The shipments, conducted by Mr Daws’ company Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd, resulted in the on-board
deaths of 2.66%, 1.99% and 1.71% of exported sheep during the voyages from Fremantle to the Middle East.

The Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal found that Graham Daws and Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd had no legal reason to oppose the release of the AQIS report.

Mr Daws opposed the public release of the AQIS report because he said it would be “damaging to the business” of Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd if the report was released.

Deputy President Robert Nicholson considered that the business of Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd could not be
damaged any further because much of the information contained within the AQIS report had already been
disclosed to parliament. Any further damage to the business of Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd would only be as a consequence of drawing attention to those facts of these high-mortality shipments.

Mr Daws gained notoriety in February 2008 when he and his company, Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd, narrowly
escaped conviction for animal cruelty charges relating to a live export voyage in November 2003.

Mr Daws represented himself and his company Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd in the AAT hearing on 24 October.
The AQIS report is unlikely to be released until the expiry of Mr Daws’ appeal period.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager

Stop Live Exports
0417 973 472

 

Malcolm Caulfield

Animals Australia

03 6359 2339

For more information or for a copy of the Reasons for Decision in Daws v Department of Forestry & Fisheries
and Animals Australia Inc No. 2007/5512, please contact Jodie Jankevics on the above number or at
pacat@iinet.net.au

Local supporters and volunteers of Fremantle group, People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport will be out in
force on Saturday 15th November as part of the biggest ever National Day of Action against live animal exports.
Volunteers will be in both Perth and Fremantle gathering even more signatures on a petition to be presented
to the House of Representatives.
“There are already 180,000 signatures on this petition, one of the largest ever in Australia’s history”, said Jodie
Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports. Many people in WA are very much against the live export,
as they witness the packed trucks on a regular basis. Basically, there is no hiding the cruelty”, she said.
“This combined with the latest footage of inappropriate handling just released by Animals Australia following
their investigations in the Middle East, is yet more evidence that this is a cruel trade by nature. We hope that
the Australian Government gets the message that an overwhelming number of Australians are against it”.

Please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager

Stop Live Exports
0417 973 472
pacat@iinet.net.au
www.stopliveexports.org

For more information:
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/nationaldayofaction

Latest research from CSIRO and Department of Primary Industries Victoria suggests sheep and cattle for slaughter are routinely subjected to electric prods, food and water deprivation, fear and fatigue. The authors of the study, DM Ferguson and RD Warner, suggest these stresses result in tougher, darker meat that does not hold its water.

Ferguson and Warner say: “We are of the view that the impact of pre-slaughter stress has been underestimated and that it is imperative that the issue receives more research attention. This needs to continue in the interests of optimising animal welfare and minimising losses in product yield and quality”.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports says, “Sheep and cattle are often transported considerable distances to abattoirs. Once they arrive at the abattoir they are sometimes kept for a day or two prior to slaughter. They may not have had any food and water for over 48 hours prior to slaughter. In addition, electric prodders are routinely used on sheep and cattle”.

Stop Live Exports is opposed to the use of electric prodders because of the fear and distress it causes these animals. This latest study demonstrates that it’s not only the animals who suffer when electric prodders are used: electric prodders makes the meat tough too. There may be a reason other than simple kindness to put an end to electric prodders.

For more information, please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
0417 973 472
pacat@iinet.net.au

For more information:
www.rspcawa.asn.au/campaigns
www.handlewithcare.org.au

On Friday 24 October the Administrative Appeals Tribunal will hear live animal exporter Graham Daws’ fight to keep secret key documents about a voyage in which large numbers of sheep died.

Mr Daws is opposing the public release of a report of an Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service investigation which relates to a live export voyage from Fremantle to the Middle East in 2005. Over 1,500 sheep died during the voyage.

Mr Daws gained notoriety in February 2008 when he and his company, Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd, narrowly escaped conviction for animal cruelty relating to a live export voyage in November 2003.

Mr Daws has not made public his reasons for opposing the release of the Investigation Report.

Mr Daws’ opposition to the public release of the AQIS Investigation Report is in direct contrast to AQIS’s position that exporters ought to publicly release completed Investigation Reports in order to improve the transparency of the live export trade. After the Cormo Express disaster in 2003, when over 5,500 sheep died, the Federal Parliament passed laws requiring summary information on all live export journeys to be reported to Parliament.

Animals Australia's Legal Counsel Malcolm Caulfield says: “Animals Australia has sought this Investigation Report under a Freedom of Information application. In 1991 Mr Daws also fought to keep details of live export voyages secret from the public. Mr Daws' action clearly indicates that live exporter claims of increased public accountability are yet more window dressing”. 

Mr Daws’ application in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal is Daws v Department of Forestry & Fisheries and Animals Australia Inc No. 2007/5512.  Animals Australia will be making submissions to the Tribunal in support of the release of the documents.

For more information, please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
0417 973 472
pacat@iinet.net.au

For more information:
www.rspcawa.asn.au/campaigns
www.handlewithcare.org.au

Local Fremantle group, People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport (PACAT) have urged RSPCA members to put Ken Hall, a supporter of live animal exports, last on their election papers.
Mr Hall, who is standing for re-election to the RSPCA committee, recently sent three pages of campaign material to all RSPCA members stating his support of live export and said that RSPCA should not be concerned with the welfare of farm animals or livestock.

“We find it disturbing that there is a person for election on the RSPCA committee that isn’t concerned for the welfare of all animals”, said Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for PACAT.  “Mr Hall is in complete opposition to the RSPCA position that live exports are cruel and should be stopped. Whilst this trade continues, millions of Australian animals will continue to suffer”, she said.

“We would like to see a committee with a shared vision, rather than individuals supporting their own agendas”.  “The RSPCA not only have information on their website about their opposition to live export, but are also part of Handle With Care, a worldwide coalition to end live exports”.

 

Members, who would have received voting ballots yesterday, have an opportunity to ensure the very people who are charged with the responsibility of animal welfare, extend that responsibility to all animals, including livestock.

For more information, please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
0417 973 472
pacat@iinet.net.au

For more information:
www.rspcawa.asn.au/campaigns
www.handlewithcare.org.au

Local Fremantle group People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport have said today that they are “disgusted” that the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) have backed down on animal welfare improvements designed to reduce heat stress related deaths on board two-tiered live animal transportation vessels.
AQIS was taken to court by a coalition of live exporters and importers for imposing additional space requirements of 10-15%. The move was designed to manage heat stress, but the coalition said the decision would affect their profits.  AQIS backed down yesterday and eased rules to only allow 5-10% more space.
The high stocking density of sheep leads to deaths account for approximately 5000 of the 37,000 average deaths per year on live export vessels.  Sheep suffer intensely because they are generally not used to heat and humidity.

“We find unacceptable that financial gain is put ahead of animal welfare”, says Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport.  “Of course, high stocking densities aren’t the only animal welfare.

For more information, please contact:
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager
0417 973 472
pacat@iinet.net.au

For more information:
http://www.liveexport-indefensible.com/news/?article=201http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2008/10/01/12085_latest-news.html

Keith Simpson of Keith Simpson Transport has been found guilty of nearly fifty charges of inflicting suffering on animals whilst transporting them from New South Wales to Darwin. He has been placed on a three year good behaviour bond and his company was fined $5,000 plus $9,000 in court costs and victim levies.
This landmark case, which is believed to be the most serious animal welfare conviction in the Northern Territory, highlights the need for better continuity of care, improved monitoring by authorities and a national training scheme for drivers.

On the disastrous trip in July last year, the company trucked 1,500 feral goats which were bound for the Malaysian market. Twelve goats died on the journey and another 318 either subsequently died or were euthanised as they continued to suffer from the stressful trip.

Stop Live Exports Campaign Manager Jodie Jankevics said “Poor driver handling is a huge issue and this is the second conviction in recent months of drivers who have contravened animal welfare laws. Without compulsory training for drivers to educate them in appropriate ways of handling animals, unfortunately these types of incidents will continue”.

Stop Live Exports also considers that long haul transport and export of goats, particularly feral goats, is inappropriate on animal welfare grounds. Goats suffer much higher rates of death, injury and spontaneous abortion during long haul travel than do other animals. In a government led inquiry, the Kenriry report concluded that welfare issues surrounding goats are so serious that it should be phased out by January 2005.

In the first conviction of its kind, former truck driver, Gregory Keith Dawson was found guilty of animal cruelty in July 2008.  This included violently throwing three sheep, dragging a sheep by the leg and electrically shock prodding a sheep on the face. At the time of the attacks, he was unloading the sheep at the live export carrier MV Bader at the Port of Fremantle.

The driver was fined $2,500 plus costs, banned for one year from contact with sheep and cattle and was refused a request for a “spent conviction” (hidden conviction).

Part of Dawson’s defense was that what he did was representative of the whole industry and that drivers treat animals in the same manner as he had because that’s the way it is done.  This shows an enormous need for driver training in animal handling and increased monitoring at ports. 

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports said “This case certainly sets a precedent for animal cruelty charges and it is unreasonable that the industry expects drivers to be aware of, and understand the legislation and guidelines but are not trained in how to handle animals- particularly in the low stress methods”.

The Department of Local Government and Regional Development has said that “animal cruelty in any industry would not be tolerated and people involved in any area of livestock production and transport must treat animals humanely”.  Stop Live Exports believes that for this to happen, more Animal Welfare Officers are required to monitor activities at the ports both whilst being loaded at feedlots and unloaded onto the transport vessels.

Thank you to Animals Angels for providing the above information.  Please visit www.animals-angels.com

A coalition of live sheep export stakeholders has taken action in the Federal Court in Western Australia to stop the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service introducing improvements for sheep on export vessels. Local Fremantle group “Stop Live Exports” have said today that the impending court case by is proof that the industry is not committed to improving animal welfare standards.

The Coalition, which includes exporters and importers of live sheep, are opposing an additional 10%-15% more space for sheep on export vessels with open two-tiered decks. The move is being introduced by AQIS to reduce heat stress for animals making the long journey.

Jodie Jankevics, the Stop Live Exports Campaign Manager said “Exporters are permitted to stock sheep at 2 - 4 sheep per square, depending on their weight. Heat stress is a very serious issue on board these ships due to the high stocking densities, as is identifying sick and dying animals on board”. “Whilst any animal welfare improvement is welcomed, there are still major issues with the trade including animals failing to eat, salmonella and poor handling. I think this move proves that the industry is not serious about animal welfare”, she said.

The coalition have stated that they will suffer significant adverse impact on its business by reducing stocking density on export voyages thereby reducing the overall profitability of its business, proving that the industry is not able to meet animal welfare standards and be profitable at the same time. The move by AQIS may will mean thousands fewer sheep will be sent to various countries in nine voyages between May and October this year. The case which is scheduled for mediation at the Federal Court in Western Australia on September 18.

On 8 February 2008 the Perth Magistrates Court found that live export company Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd, and its two directors, Michael Stanton and Graham Daws breached the West Australian Animal Welfare Act when it transported 103,222 sheep aboard the MV Al Kuwait from Fremantle to the Middle East in November 2003. On the voyage, over 2.66% of the sheep died of starvation and disease. During the trial, Emanuel Export’s defence lawyer, Tony Bannon, described the voyage as routine.

In the first case of its kind in Australia the WA government prosecuted Emanuel Exports, Stanton and Daws.

The Court held that the animals were transported in a manner likely to cause harm and that Emanuel Exports and its directors had breached the Animal Welfare Act.

A Licence for Cruelty?

Despite finding that the evidence proved that Emanuel Exports, Michael Stanton and Graham Daws had committed crimes, the Court held that it was unable to punish them.

Emanuel Exports, Michael Stanton and Graham Daws were acquitted on a legal technicality. The Court held that the commonwealth export
licensing regime overrode the West Australian animal welfare laws. The Court explained that while the transportation of the sheep in this manner was likely to cause suffering, the commonwealth government had granted them a licence for this conduct: a licence for cruelty.

Consequently, Emanuel Exports, Michael Stanton and Graham Daws went unpunished.

If the commonwealth export licensing regime did not override the West Australian laws, Emanuel Exports and its directors would definitely have been guilty of a crime. The company could have been fined up to $250,000 and the directors could have been imprisoned for up to 5 years.

The effect of the Court’s decision is that live exporters are apparently exempt from state animal welfare laws.

Stop Live Exports is concerned that live exporters could potentially be breaching the WA Animal Welfare Act on virtually every shipment – and the West Australian government is powerless to act.

If you consider it unacceptable for the commonwealth government to absolve live exporters of their crimes in Western Australia please contact Tony Burke (Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au) and let him know that a commonwealth export licence is a Licence for Cruelty.

Why did the Court think that Emanuel Exports, Michael Stanton and Graham Daws were Cruel?

Click here to read the full reasons for decision. During the trial the Court heard the following evidence:

• Sheep are held in densely packed pens (note: the commonwealth government allows stocking densities of 3 to 4 sheep per square metre Australian Standards for Export of Livestock, November 2006);

• In some places the pens are very dimly lit and the ceiling is only 120cm so it is impossible for a stockman or vet to properly inspect the animals and dead and dying animals go unnoticed;

• Emanuel Exports’ stockman testified that the stockman or vet on board monitors the health of the animals by once day taking a garbage bag tied to a poly pipe and shaking it in the pens. This makes the sheep move so sick or dead sheep can be noticed.

• Emanuel Export’s stockman explained that although moribund animals are occasionally euthanised, about 80% of mortalities are animals who simply fall down dead in their pens;

• Epidemic salmonellosis causing diarrhoea and, sometimes death, occurs frequently on live export ships but is otherwise not seen in sheep in Australia.

• The design of the pens and the manner of monitoring makes it extremely difficult to identify which sheep are not eating or have salmonellosis or diarrhoea.

• It is possible to treat sheep with antibiotics and fluid replacement but this is seldom practised due to cost.

Sheep Jumps from Truck to Messy End

As overloaded trucks with sheep passed by Sharon Chamberlain on her way to work on Tuesday 14th March, she noticed a sheep sitting on the side of Mundijong Road. Sharon stopped to assist the animal that had come from the feedlot and was on its way to the Al Kuwait shipping vessel for live export. As she pulled the sheep from the ditch, she could hear crepitus in the legs (bones crunching together). The animal was also bleeding from the mouth and nose. It had large lacerations on the right side of its body and large amounts of the skin were peeled back exposing its flesh. Sharon, a vet nurse, said "the injuries were very fresh; the blood had not begun to coagulate. Both horns had snapped off from the skull, and the sheep could not control its hind quarters".

Sharon dragged the sheep up the road towards her car. Many sheep trucks passed her and no one stopped to assist in her struggle to move the animal. She put the sheep on the bonnet of the car and then managed to put it in the back seat of her car.

The veterinary surgeon at Port Kennedy veterinary hospital gave the sheep pain relief while he assessed the extent of the injuries. Unfortunately, the injuries were too severe and the animal was humanely euthanised.

Sharon says "This is not the first time I have rescued a sheep that has fallen off a truck" and "If we could have pinned the leg, the vet would have, but the animal had multiple breaks and injuries".

Lisa Critchley from People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport says "Too often there is overloading of sheep in trucks. Frequently reported incidents of animals jumping off open-top trucks are unacceptable to an industry that likes to pretend that animal welfare is its main priority. Furthermore, the Government Animal Welfare Department should be encouraged to make open-top tiered trucks illegal".

"Surely it's only a matter of time before a sheep lands on the windscreen of an unsuspecting driver. The consequences of that happening are unthinkable."

 

For any further information, please contact:
Sharon Chamberlain: Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital - 9524 664
Lisa Critchley: Spokesperson and Campaign Manager
for People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport - 0433 814 072

On Saturday 25th March, as part of the National Day of Action against live animal exports, 'Sheila the Australian cow', draped in an Australian flag, will board the Perth - Fremantle train carriages, visit Australian landmarks, and call on Aussies to take action to help end live animal exports to the Middle East.

People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport, PACAT calls on the Western Australian Government to put pressure on the Federal Government to end the cruel live animal export trade to the Middle East.

Lisa Critchley, PACAT Spokesperson said today:
"If the WA Government made progress towards ending live animal exports, this cruel and immoral industry would all but cease to exist. Western Australia supplies 30% of cattle exports and 75% of sheep exports. It is not true that this is a matter for the Federal Government only. The WA Premier, Mr. Alan Carpenter, has an opportunity to show leadership on this issue; the response PACAT had from the '60 Minutes' expose of live animal export to Egypt shows that the majority of Western Australians are clearly appalled by the trade and want it stopped immediately."

Commenting on live animal export industry and Federal Government claims that they are doing animals a favour by improving handling and slaughter practices in the Middle East. Ms Critchley says:
"There is no actual evidence to support this claim, only words! Conclusive evidence found by Animals Australia in five Middle Eastern countries shows quite the opposite. Australian animals are being shipped to countries where they are subjected to unacceptable callous handling and slaughter."

All around the country today animal welfare advocates are taking these issues to the streets to ask Aussies to speak up for the millions of animals that Australia exports to hellish blood baths in the Middle East.

"The live animal export industry and the Australian Government cannot hide from appalling evidence of gross animal cruelty in the Middle East. The export of our animals to the Middle East must end We must show the rest of the world that Australia is a progressive and compassionate country, and that animal cruelty is totally 'un-Australian'."

For further details, and to meet up for great photo opportunities with Sheila the cow and PACAT call Lisa Critchely, People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport Spokesperson.
Mobile: 0433 814 072

 

No amount of dollars justifies live animal export cruelty

This week the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran, will be in Perth to address the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) launch of a new economic report regarding the value of live animal exports. On Wednesday 12 July, People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport (PACAT) will greet the Minister as he arrives at the Duxton Hotel for a breakfast meeting that coincides with the launch of the new report, at 1 St Georges Terrace, Perth at 7am.

PACAT will be there to greet the Minister and represent the community's concern for the welfare of exported Australian animals. PACAT maintains that economic gain should never take precedence over simple business ethics. PACAT will ask Minister McGauran not to turn away from recent evidence showing serious animal cruelty in the Middle East where Australian animals are exported.

During late December 2005 and January 2006, peak animal welfare group, Animals Australia, conducted an extensive investigation in the Middle East into the handling and slaughter of exported Australian animals. Investigators visited Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt. Despite live export industry claims that they are improving animal welfare in the Middle East, investigators from Animals Australia found evidence wholly to the contrary. Throughout all regions, investigators witnessed gross mishandling of animals and methods of slaughter that were violent and breached halal slaughter requirements. For more information, please refer to the Animals Australia Middle East Investigation Report at www.animalsaustralia.org

As Peter McGauran prepares to address live export industry representatives, PACAT spokesperson Ms Lisa Critchley comments:

"A report that addresses the value of live animal export detracts from issues concerning the welfare of exported animals. No amount of money can justify the enormity of suffering Australian animals endure during their transportation and slaughter. People need to be assured that Australia is not participating in unethical and immoral business ventures and PACAT encourages the Minister for Agriculture to support a more humane chilled halal-accredited meat industry, so that Australian animals are treated according to Australian animal welfare standards and law."

The 2004-2005 export value of Australian meat exports was $6 billion, whereas the value of live animal exports was $0.674 billion. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics) Accordingly, PACAT maintains that the industry cannot be rationalised on either economic or animal welfare grounds.

For further details about this event please call PACAT spokesperson, Lisa Critchley, on 0433 814 072

 

KILL THE LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT TRADE
ABC COVERAGE OF JUNE DEMO IN FREMANTLE

Protesters renew campaign to ban live sheep trade
Protesters against the live sheep trade have renewed their campaign to ban the industry in Western Australia.

Australia's live sheep industry is preparing to resume exports of live animals to Saudi Arabia after the ship Cormo Express was turned away by Saudi authorities for quarantine reasons in 2003. The Australian Government lobbied Saudi Arabia to allow the trade again and launched an investigation of the live sheep industry to improve its standards.

Lisa Critchley from People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport says though changes have been made, the industry is yet to improve the way it transports animals.

"These recommendations in no way increase the welfare of these animals because in a nutshell whenever you put animals on trucks and on ships there is inevitable animal welfare issues that haven't been addressed by the Keniry report," she said.

But Mike Norton from the WA Farmers Federation says the industry is dedicated to improving its standards and the resumption of trade with Saudi Arabia is hastening those efforts.

"We always did have some very good processes in place and the mortality rates for a long period of time have been on a downward trend," he said.

KILL THE LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT TRADE
AAP COVERAGE OF JUNE DEMO IN FREMANTLE

WA: Animal rights groups stages protest over live sheep exports Wednesday, 15 Jun 2005 at 5:31pm;
Category: Australian General News; Low priority; Story No. 4498.
WA: Animal rights groups stages protest over live sheep exports

PERTH, June 15 AAP - Animal rights activists have protested outside the offices of a sheep exporter, urging that live exports be replaced with a chilled carcass industry. About 30 members of People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport (PACAT) gathered outside the offices of Wellard Rural Exports in the West Australian port of Fremantle to urge the company, and others like it, not to resume live animal exports to Saudi Arabia. The protest followed the signing by Australia and Saudi Arabia last month of a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the conditions under which the trade would resume and including assurances livestock would be unloaded into quarantine if a dispute developed.

The live export trade with Saudi Arabia was suspended in August 2003 after a cargo of 50,000 sheep aboard the MV Cormo Express was stranded for weeks. It had been denied entry because of complaints by the Saudis that the sheep were suffering a relatively minor virus called scabby mouth.

The sheep were eventually donated to Eritrea.

Saudi Arabia was Australia's biggest Middle Eastern market for live sheep in 2003, importing 1.4 million head valued at $100 million. In 2001, the market took more than 2.1 million head.

PACAT spokeswoman Lisa Critchley said the group had evidence of 12 shipments being rejected from Saudi Arabia over the past 15 years.

"We don't think this Memorandum of Understanding is going to help the animal welfare issue," Ms Critchley said.

"This just means that the animal will have to be further transported into these quarantine areas, will be further mishandled and then when they're in these quarantine areas, we're not sure they will get the veterinary attention they may need."

"The government should put their efforts and their money into developing the chilled carcass industry and not try to prop the live export industry up with a Memorandum of Understanding that is not a legally enforceable document." AAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handle with Care Report - pdf

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Australian Live Sheep Exports - pdf

 

ACIL Q&A.doc

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ACIL Tasman Report - pdf

Fact Sheet 1 | Fact Sheet 2 | Fact Sheet 3 | Fact Sheet 4 | Fact Sheet 5 | Fact Sheet 6

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Buffalo
Camels
Cattle
Cattle Transport
Circuses
Deer
Emus
Exhibited Animals
Feral
Goats
Horse Transport
NHMRC
Pigeons
Pigs
Pig Transport
Poultry
Poultry Transport
Rabbits
Rodeos
Saleyards
Sheep
Sheep Transport

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Hassal Report 2006

Australias Live Export Trade The Cruel Facts

Australias Live Export Trade An Economic Dead End

Comparison of world livestock export standards 2006

Papers presented at the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society 2004

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June 2010

May 2010

February 2010

September 2009

September 2008

February 2008

September 2007

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