Some fantastic news from Australia – please read the statements below.
This is the start of the end for the live animal export trade from Australia.
Congratulations to all our visitors and supporters who helped achieve this historic start to stopping the live animal export business from Australia.
SAV.
Some of our previous links:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/australia-labor-move-to-end-live-exports-grows/
Dear Mark,
For thousands of cattle in Australia’s top end, today is a day worth celebrating. After eight days of intense campaigning and public pressure following exposure of the horrendous animal cruelty, the Gillard Government has announced a suspension on the live cattle trade to Indonesia.
I cannot express in words my relief to know that, at least for now, animals will be spared from what I witnessed during Animals Australia’s most recent live export investigation in Indonesia. This is a huge step towards an end to the cruelty inflicted on all animals in the live export trade — but our campaign is not over yet.
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 last week’s Four Corners exposé eclipsed the backlash of almost any other political issue in Australian history. Over 100,000 Animals Australia and RSPCA Australia supporters wrote to the Prime Minister at BanLiveExport.com and at the same time 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, however, the weight of evidence from Animals Australia’s eight investigations confirms that only a complete ban on live animal exports to all countries will ensure that these images are not repeated. Such a move would also send the strongest possible message to other countries that animals, and their welfare, matter. We 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.
Our recently launched advertising campaign featuring television and radio ads is one powerful way that we are reminding Julia Gillard that caring Australians will accept nothing short of a total ban on all live animal exports. We are seeking urgent donations to keep this campaign on air for as long as possible.
On June 20th, 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. Please click here to send an instant letter to your local MP and state senators to encourage them to pass this vital legislation.
Up against a powerful industry and a Government reluctant to act, this past week has shown that the power of caring individuals voicing their concern is nothing short of tremendous. We couldn’t have come this far without you.
On behalf of those animals still depending on our help, thank you sincerely for your continued support.
Lyn White
Investigator & Campaign Director
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Prime Minister responds to community outrage
Dear Mark
Last week we asked you for help to get justice for Bill, a beautiful Australian steer that met a terrifying and gruesome end in an Indonesian slaughterhouse after being supplied to that country by our live export industry. Last night – with your help, justice was done.
The Prime Minister has answered the calls of hundreds of thousands of Australians and suspended all cattle exports to Indonesia.
Today, the Prime Minister has heard the voices of Bill, Brian, Arthur, Dudley, Tommy and the 6.4 million animals sent to Indonesia before them.
Following an unprecedented outcry by the Australian community, the Government has been forced to act following revelations of terrible cruelty to Australian cattle in slaughterhouses in Indonesia shown on ABC’s Four Corners. Over the past week, more than 100,000 people have written to the Prime Minister, 320,000 have signed a petition to halt the trade to Indonesia and tens of thousands of others have contacted their local members of Parliament and Senators and spoken out on social media and traditional media. It is already being described as a “win for people power”.
The real win is for Australian cattle, that because of the support of the community and the media, will no longer face a cruel and brutal death in Indonesian slaughterhouses.
The collaboration of RSPCA Australia with Animals Australia, with support from GetUp! and their members, together with a growing group of politicians who spoke up against this cruelty has delivered this great result
While we all certainly need to celebrate this success, our work is not done.
We will be looking closely at the terms of this suspension and work to close any loopholes. And we can’t forget that over 3 million sheep and around 135,000 cattle will go to the Middle East this year and most will also face inhumane handling and slaughter.
We will need the help of the community again to ensure the Gillard Government hears their voice and ends the live export trade once and for all.
Visit www.BanLiveExport.com
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Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 