Live export campaign heightened following release of new footage

By By Erin Smith | 19 August 2011
 

Animals Australia and the RSPCA have stepped up the "Ban Live Export" campaign, with the release of new footage featuring sheep in a Turkish slaughterhouse.

The graphic footage shows animals hanging above the ground, hoisted by their hind legs as their throats are cut.

The campaign, which can be viewed at www.banliveexport.com, aims to pressure the government to end the trade.

The site encourages Australian citizens to take action through Facebook, Twitter, letters and various ways and pressure the government into implementing change. 

The footage, taken at two Turkish abattoirs, depicts a violation of international welfare standards, both activist groups claimed.

The campaign has the support of Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who introduced a bill to make Australian slaughterhouse standards mandatory in countries who take in our live exports.

It also has the support of Greens MP Adam Bandt, whose bill to end the trade was voted down in parliament yesterday after it received zero support from the government or opposition MPs.

Animals Australia campaign director Lyn White couldn't confirm that the animals in the footage were Australian, but she said it was a regular practice and the abattoirs regularly received Australian cattle and sheep.

“This is a routine method that occurred in nine of the 10 abattoirs that we visited. This absolutely breaches ... the international guidelines that the Department of Agriculture have said for years had to be the base-level standard for the importation of Australian livestock. It has to be asked, why export permits have been provided to Turkey.”

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