Source: Perth Now http://bit.ly/af4hxSFREMANTLE has adopted a policy aimed at putting an end to live sheep exports from the port.
A historic decision was made last night by the City of Fremantle to support a phase out of live exports.
Fremantle Council has now joined Greens Member for South East Metropolitan, Lynn MacLaren, and Federal Labour Member for Fremantle, Melissa Parke, in opposing live exports on the grounds of cruelty.
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the time had come for the "cruel and unnecessary live sheep trade to be phased out and replaced with a trade that supports local jobs”.
“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,” Mr Pettitt said.
Stop Live Exports campaign manager Jodie Jankevics 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 per cent 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.”
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Finally, they are seeing the light! This is such an important step towards ending this trade. It's made my day:)
Wow ! I am so happy to read this news - congratulations to the Mayor and members of council to take a leadership position on this vitally important issue - a brave step rarely seen by local government - makes me want to move there ! Congratulations to all the lobbying groups that have been working hard on this issue for a long time. Maybe there is hope now to stop this needless cruelty one day. This has restored my faith in the lobbying process !
This is one of the most important milestones for animal welfare in Australia. Australian's are often quick to judge other countries for their poor treatment of animals while ignoring the ill treatment occuring in our own backyard.
I am starting to realise that there is an increasing amount of Aussies speaking up for these beautiful creatures who can't speak for themselves. Well done to those who have fought so hard, hopefully we can see a complete end to this cruel practice very soon!
i echo everything that's been said... but there's so much more to do...
That's a great victory and a step in the right direction! I'm sure all the beautiful aussie sheep silently thank you for all your hard work!
Peter Dundon said he is concerned at calls to STOP the trade.
If Australia stopped Live exporting, that would force the importing countries in the Middle East, to increase trading with countries like Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran and India he said.These countries do not have anywhere near the standards we do in terms of shipping practices. I have never seen, and dont know of, any other competing countries in the market here, doing the work Australia is doing in terms of animal welfare.
It would be better if animals did come from those countries as it's only a 2-3 day trip opposed to a month long journey From Oz. As a Muslim I know these countries requiring live sheep only for the Eid festival as the rest of the year these countries purchase their meat the same way we do - from a supermarket as chilled meat which Australia could supply with more support from the Gov't. Plus I'd like to know what Australia is doing in the middle east anyway - sounds like a lot of nothing to me.
http://www.liveexportcare.com.au/
See the real story NOT the Peta version.
If anyone is actually interested in the real story they need to be aware that live export is a Self Regulated Industry and if anyone looks at the the Live Export Care site need to read the following:
http://www.mla.com.au/HeaderAndFooter/AboutMLA/Company+overview.htm
http://www.mla.com.au/HeaderAndFooter/AboutMLA/Howwearefunded/default.htm
MLA is funded by a levy charged for every live animal that leaves this country so if there is an end to live export, there is probably an end to MLA.
They also receive dollar matched funding from our Australian Government for R&D. Quoted from their website their Research and Development goals include everything apart from animal welfare - To summarise - they get paid per live animal that leaves Australia so why should they care about the welfare!!
Direct from their Documentation:
"We conduct R&D throughout the red meat supply chain to develop a competitive advantage for the industry.
- As part of our goal to develop competitive advantages for the red meat industry, we are involved in a broad range of research and development throughout the supply chain.
- On-farm projects include grazing management, parasite control, meat quality, animal genetics for improved efficiency and environmental management.
- Post-farm R&D activity covers environmental management, product development, supply chain management, health and safety, education and training, technology development and commercialisation, food safety and microbiological research, and co-product innovations such as leather, sheepskin and bone."
This gives you an understanding of why MLA spend money on online propaganda (or as part of their objectives -growing demand for Red Meat). They also are unable to determine the difference between the World Society for the Protection of Animals and PETA. Two different organisations without any ulterior motive but to improve animal welfare standards. Geez - I wonder who we should believe.
The facts are clear - Live Export costs Australia jobs , is shocking animal welfare, and MLA only get paid for every live animal that leave this country as a levy. So rather then send you to a dodgy website with no credibility, I'll let you decide.
Allah did not plan for his beings to be treated in such a way, so as a Muslim Australian it is with great disappointment that this unnecessary trade continues.
Yusuf you are SO far off the mark and just so wrong about things it is a joke.
MLA is funded by a levy on all live stock sale no matter who buys them. Here are some FACTS:
The volume of sheep exports softened by 15% to 3.5 million head in 2009, the value remained stable at A$323 million, reflecting stronger sheep prices. This down from 6.8 million sheep exported in 2001
Kuwait was again the largest market for Australian sheep in 2009, with the 950,000 sheep exported there.
The decline in exports of sheep to the Middle East was a result of the ongoing pressure on sheep supply in Australia
Saudi Arabia has dropped back to our third largest market after years of being our leading market because supply issues have increased the prices of Australian sheep.
As for Allah's plan, How about you go back to the Middle east and tell them, because they are the ones causing all the problems.
Anonymous, your level of intelligence is astounding.
It would seem your knowledge of the live export trade is almost as good as your proud racial slurs.
“As for Allah's plan, How about you go back to the Middle east and tell them, because they are the ones causing all the problems.”
So by this rationale I’m guessing you believe that ALL Muslims come from the Middle East?
Australia’s involvement is directly feeding an inherently cruel trade. Silence is complicity; Australia’s silence is a public act of condoning cruelty.
Shame on you.
???? Shame on you. ????
I dont see any racial slurs, in what I said.
Simply the people of the Middle East and the way they handel the sheep is what you people are complain about. Also they are ALL muslims, I have no problem with that at all.
I was just pointing out the stupidity of your statement about ALLAH. I Quote you:
"Allah did not plan for his beings to be treated in such a way"
Saying the peopel from the Middle East are all muslim's is hardly a racial slur.
You say:Australia’s involvement is directly feeding an inherently cruel trade.
FACT: Australia is one of several country's that export to the Middle East. Simple if Australia stopped exportiong, they would just get more sheep from somewere else. So the peoplem with what goes on there would not change AT ALL.
FACT: Australia is the only country trying to improve animal welfare in the Middle East.
Hi Anonymous...cough cough...I mean MLA!!!
Seems like you're education standards are as moderate as your ability to not only tell a Fact but to understand that the quotes are from MLA themselves.
If you were actually interested in reading the details found on MLA's (I mean your site) you would understand that you get a levy for every live animal that leaves Australia, regardless of where it goes. This issue with sending animals to the Middle East is the arduous journey our animals have to endure.
There is no argument that there is poor treatment of our animals in the Middle East - but to use an analogy - If 3 MLA Directors were sent on a voyage for 4 weeks in a 1m square compartment, feed on grain, standing in their highly paid colleagues faeces, then kicked off the boat to transported further in car boots, would it be our fault for sending them? Although it does sound like a great idea - Very INHUMANE!!
So I state again Mr Anonymous - Why would MLA care what state the animals are when they get paid for every head that leaves our shores - Simple answer - THEY DON'T!!
To quote from the MLA site again:
"How much are the transaction levies?
Transaction levies are different for each species.
Cattle and calves:
Cattle $5.00 per head
Grain-fed cattle $5.00 per head
Bobby calves 90c per head
Sheep and Lambs:
Where there is a defined sale price of $5.00 or more (no levies apply to sales of less than $5.00)
Sheep 2% of sale price (to a maximum of $0.20)
Lambs 2% of sale price (to a maximum of $1.50)
Where there is no defined sales price:
Sheep 20c per head
Lambs 80c per head
Goats
Goats 37.7c per head"
Thanks for your useless argument.
Anonymous, I think it’s you that needs to be aware of the facts.
FACT: After 2006 when Animals Australia had exposed how terrible the treatment of our sheep was in Egypt, Australia suspended, and now has banned the export of sheep to Egypt. Egyptian media reports since that time - over consecutive Eid festivals – has reported that the Egyptian Government has moved to ensure the import of chilled meat from other countries to satisfy the period of high demand.
FACT: The ACIL TASMAN economic analysis report of 2009 revealed that there is a substantial chilled meat trade in all markets we currently export live animals to. We should be putting the same resources and economic incentives into growing the chilled meat export trade that the live trade currently enjoys, and then we’ll lessen live animal demand and reap the economic benefits.
Anonymous, you also might enjoy these facts:
FACT: 1,000’s of Australian meat workers have lost their jobs because we keep shipping their jobs overseas!
FACT: The Mayor of Fremantle, the Mayor of Sydney and the Mayor of Dubbo all have spoken out and all want live exports to end.
FACT: The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, The British Veterinary Association and the New Zealand Veterinary Association have all taken a position against live animal exports.
FACT: Over 83,000 Australians have joined the Humane Chain in support of an end to live sheep exports in the last 12 months alone
FACT: It’s people like you, who take industry spin as gospel, form uneducated opinions and shoot out very hurtful and ignorant statements.
ANDREA
FACT: It’s people like you, who believe the industry spin (animal liberation industry) it is you, that IS wrong about some things also.
Yes Australia stopped exporting to Egypt becaus of welfare concerns.
Fact:ACIL TASMAN economic analysis report of 2009, has been show to be flawed. Thus this study cannot be taken as a reliable indication of ceasing the live sheep export trade in Western Australia and is nothing more than misleading.
FACT: Meat worker have lost there jobs because of a limited supply of sheep. Not LIve Export
FACT:The DUBBO Mayor Has nothing to do with statement on live export
Fact: The NZ introduced the new Customs Exports Prohibition NOT a blanket ban, the new legal requirement restricts live animal exports for slaughter.
FACT:The Human Chain web site has listed 34 Members.
More fact Andrea:
The numbers of live sheep exported has almost Halved. Since 2001 6.8 million sheep, 2009 3.5 million sheep.
The amount of localy processed meat has also increased over this time, The middle East is taking a greater amount of chilled and frozen product.
DO you accept that Australia is the only country working on improving animal welfare in the Middle East.
These Facts should make you happy.
Reply to Yusuf,Quote
So I state again Mr Anonymous - Why would MLA care what state the animals are when they get paid for every head that leaves our shores - Simple answer - THEY DON'T!!
Yes correct they Don't because it is not there job.
AQUIS oversee all live export shipments and enforce strict rules that are now in place, to ensure animal welfare on the 14 to 21 day trip to the Middle East.
These new rules were introduced in 2005.
In the 2009 10 Budget, the Australian Government announced the Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership, which will invest $3.2 million over three years, including $1.6 million from the government with matching support from Australian producers and livestock exporters to further improve animal welfare in, and support trade with, overseas markets. The Government has also introduced legislation that provides stronger regulation of the livestock export industry. This includes a requirement to comply with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.
In regards to the last comment, can I respectfully comment and say that AQIS are very rarely at the Fremantle Port when animals are loading, and neither are the State regulatory body because they only have 1 inspector to cover the whole of WA. The Australian Standards for Export of Livestock are in fact very good regulations, but in short, there is no one to enforce them. That's why so many animals are loaded that are actually unfit to load, animals with limbs hanging out of trucks, animals with limbs trapped in trucks and downed animals. You dont need to spend long at the port to see this and there is no Government officer watching whats going on. Its a bit like if they took the Police off the road and instead told everyone to just "follow the rules please". It doesn't work, it will never work.
I very much agree with Jane. These laws are put in place and should be followed. If they are not the people involved should be removed from this business.
I should point out that not all sheep are loaded at Fremantle these days. This is because there are not enough sheep there anymore.
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