Year-End Live Animal Export Wrap-Up: Part 2

In Part One of our Year End Wrap-Up we looked at some of the live export milestones in the first half of 2011. The year’s turning point was easily defined by the atrocities uncovered by Animals Australia and televisions program Four Corners in Indonesia, which made live export an issue no one could ignore.

WSPA supporters sent thousands of letters to their MPs and to Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig in the days following the Four Corners report, and then followed the events closely in the ensuing weeks as Ludwig first suspended the live trade to Indonesia, and then re-instated it in July.

Later that month, WSPA staff traveled to Indonesia to participate in a workshop with the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association and meet with Government officials, as a step forward in terms of improving animal welfare practices within Indonesia.

Also in July, we launched a campaign to reach out to our supporters all over the world, who were shocked to find out about the cruel live animal export trade. In Phase 1 of the campaign, tens of thousands of WSPA supporters wrote letters to the Australian Government, imploring them to phase out this trade.

In Phase 2, we asked our supporters to upload their photo onto the Global Humane Chain website and we presented this visual representation of animal-lovers right around the globe to two Federal MPs at a Parliament House Press Conference in August.

Supporters all over the world took part in WSPA's Global Humane Chain

Also in August, WSPA presented at the Senate Inquiry into live exports making the case that not only is the live export trade inherently cruel, but that investing in local processing and jobs would provide a more stable base for farmers and our economy.

Building on the strong public momentum, in October we launched our ambitious “Move Forward” initiative, with the aim of mobilising volunteer “Captains” from electorates all over Australia to lobby the Labor Party to adopt a policy against live exports at its Federal Conference.

Over 100 supporters around Australia signed up to participate and we were blown away by their efforts: over 113 pieces of vital media coverage, 26 meetings with Labor representatives, and 33 events held around the country, all contributed to a great public and government awareness of the issue. This showed our decision makers that animal welfare is an important issue to everyday Australians!

A few highlights from the amazing work WSPA Captains did on the Move Forward campaign

MP Melissa Parke put forward the amendment at the Labor Conference, and the vote was so close it had to be put to a count. Although it did not pass, by a mere 22 votes, WSPA was encouraged by Minister Ludwig’s move to create infrastructure that would support alternatives to the live export trade in the North which will ultimately see a reduction in the number of animals sent live.

We end the year with 112,554 people having joined the WSPA Humane Chain and 100 dedicated Captains who have pledged to never give up until the last live export boat leaves our shores. With more support now onside than ever, we’re busy planning for what’s already looking to be a busy and exciting year in 2012. We thank everyone who has given their support along the way and look forward to the new year!

Indonesia to slash Aussie beef imports

The following news article was originally published on ABC News, written by George Roberts.

The Indonesian government says it is planning to ban all live cattle imports from Australia within a few years.

But officials say the plan is not related to the Federal Government's temporary ban on exporting live cattle to Indonesia earlier this year.

The Indonesian agriculture minister has confirmed reports the country's government will begin drastically cutting the amount of beef it imports from Australia next year.

Minister Suswono has told the ABC that Indonesia is moving towards having a completely self-sufficient beef industry, meaning that Australian exports to Indonesia will be phased out over the next three or four years.

He has confirmed that next year Indonesia will only allow about 280,000 Australian cows to be brought into the country, down from 520,000 permits this year.

But he says the Australian Government's decision to temporarily ban live cattle exports to Indonesia earlier this year is not related.

The live cattle trade was suspended by the Australian Government for a month this year after the ABC's Four Corners program sparked animal welfare concerns. The trade was later reinstated with stricter regulations.

A spokesman for Indonesia's minister also says in the future Australian farmers will only be involved with the Indonesian beef market if they breed their cows in Indonesia.

The Cattle Council of Australia is not blaming the change on the recent export ban.

"I'm sure the Indonesia ministry of trade has just made this decision which is in line with their targets for self sufficiency," the council's spokesman Andrew Ogilvie said.

But Mr Ogilvie says the move will have an impact on local producers.

A spokesperson for Australia's Agriculture Department says in recent years there has been considerable variation in the number of permits issued.

The Department says import quotas are a matter for Indonesia, and the Australian Government remains committed to the live export trade.

Earlier this month the Labor Party's national conference rejected a push to phase out live cattle exports altogether.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig moved a motion that Labor recognise the importance of the industry to jobs in Northern Australia, which delegates supported.

Year-End Live Animal Export Wrap-Up: Part 1

As 2011 is drawing to an end, at WSPA we’re taking a moment to reflect back on what was quite a momentous year for animal welfare – particularly on the issue of live animal export.

This is part one of some of the highlights, achievements, and milestones from our campaign over the past year.


Building on our campaigning work in 2010 and early 2011, WSPA worked with Federal Labor MP Janelle Saffin to introduce a Private Members Motion to end live exports into Federal Parliament on March 21, 2011. Supported by 5 other MPs, this marked the first time that the issue of live animal export has ever been debated in Parliament. Ms Saffin and MP’s Dick Adams and Melissa Parke, highlighted the inherent risks, particularly for farmers, of a trade that is vulnerable to the demands of the importing countries.

A few months later, in May 2011 we launched our new Humane Chain website with a built-in tool, making it easy for supporters to write customised letters to Members of Parliament, voicing concern about live exports. So far over 28,000 of you have taken this action demonstrating clear opposition to the trade!

May also saw the launch of our Humane Campus Challenge in which students from 8 universities across Australia competed to see who could generate the most meaningful action on their campus, raising awareness of the cruelty of the live export trade. In the end, these passionate students generated over 1,500 letters from fellow students and community members – nearly half of which came from Southern Cross University the competition winner, followed by University of Sydney.

Students participating in WSPA’s Humane Campus Challenge

On May 31, 2011 live animal export became headline news, following the shocking Four Corners report which revealed Animals Australia’s investigation into the shocking treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesian abattoirs.

The cruelty that was uncovered outraged the Australian public and none of us will forget what we saw.

In Part 2 of our Year-End Wrap-Up we’ll look at the actions WSPA supporters and staff took both locally and globally in the second half of 2011.

Labor Party pledge moves live export debate forward

Labor has rejected a move to phase out live exports at this weekend’s National Party Conference, but WSPA is encouraged by moves to support alternatives to the cruel trade.

WSPA Captains demonstrating at the Labor Party conference

At yesterday’s National Labor Party Conference in Sydney, MP Melissa Parke put forward an amendment asking delegates to support a four-year transition away from live export to a strengthened Australian chilled meat export trade – a move that would both protect Australian animals and promote Australian jobs.

The vote was so close that it was put to an official count, however sadly, support for the amendment fell just short with 173 votes for and 216 against.

WSPA Campaign Manager Jodie Jankevics said, “Whilst we’re disappointed Ms Parke's amendment didn't get through, we’re also very encouraged by Minister Ludwig’s move to create infrastructure that would support alternatives to the live export trade in the North.”

“Coupled with a stronger Labor focus on the elimination of chilled meat trade barriers such as tariffs, we believe practical steps are slowly being put into place to allow the supply chain to reduce its reliance on live export and move to a more humane and sustainable alternative.”

WSPA supporters’ efforts across the country through our "Move Forward" campaign have played a key role in raising awareness of the benefits of transitioning away from the live export trade with both the general public and importantly many key decision makers.

Since October, with the support of more than 100 volunteer Captains and their teams, we have generated over 80 pieces of media coverage nationally, had face-to-face meetings with almost 40 Labor representatives and union officials and collected over 11,000 new petition signatures.

Just one of many examples of a Captain who got published in her local paper.

It was all of this tremendous activity that helped make yesterday’s historic vote possible. Together we really have moved the debate around live exports forward and are now one step closer to ending this cruel and unnecessary trade.

On another positive note, Ms Parke also put forward an amendment this weekend calling for an Independent Commission of Animal Welfare, which was passed. WSPA would like to thank Ms Parke for all of her efforts to help improve animal welfare.

WSPA will continue to work with industry and Government to transition away from the live export trade to an alternative that protects animals from cruelty. With the start of a New Year just around the corner, we now have some new opportunities for change for animals that we can pursue - keep a look out for some exciting new initiatives in 2012!

Live Export Policy Debate is an opportunity for Labor to protect animal welfare and create jobs

The future direction of the Australian meat processing and live export industries will be debated at the Labor Party conference this weekend, with delegates considering a policy amendment to support a transition from the live export trade into an expanded chilled, frozen and processed meat trade.

The amendment will ask delegates to support a four-year transition from live export to chilled meat exports, while supporting the infrastructure requirements necessary for a strengthened Australian meat processing industry and promotion of Australian chilled meat products to overseas markets.

The amendment will be proposed by Melissa Parke Federal MP for Fremantle, WA, who said "Independent economic reports have established that a transition would support 5,000 new jobs, and protect many more*.”



“A sheep processed domestically is worth around 20% more to the Australian economy than one exported live and if we’re serious about our responsibilities to protect and create Australian jobs, the chilled meat export industry is the only logical long-term sustainable path,” she concluded.

Federal MP Melissa Parke

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has recently stated in an executive resolution “Executive notes the extent of the outcry emanating from cattle producers following the temporary ban on the live export trade to Indonesia. It is our understanding that Indonesia has indicated it wants to be self sufficient in live cattle by 2014. If so, cattle producers will find themselves in an even worse predicament, unless Australia retains a strong meat-processing sector. The ongoing decline of the Australia meat processing sector is not in the long term interests of either the workers in the sector or the cattle producers”.

Jodie Jankevics, campaigns manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) said, “A well managed transition will save and create Australian jobs, bring more money into our economy and reduce the transportation and slaughter welfare issues that are the inescapable reality of live export.”

“Up to this point live export has been shielded by official party policy support, but this weekend Labor Party delegates have the opportunity to make a change, and represent the views of the overwhelming public majority. We hope to see delegates choose jobs, economic growth and compassion by ending this inherently risky trade.”

“Over 110,000 Australians have taken action via WSPA’s live export campaign calling for an end to the trade, and we know many Labor politicians feel that protecting Australian jobs and animals by supporting a transition to chilled meat export makes sense,” she concluded.

A recent Lonergan Research national survey commissioned by WSPA reveals that over 77% of the Australian public believe live export is cruel, and 80% of the population believe the Labor Party should reconsider its support of live export and embrace a transition to locally processed chilled meat export.