HUMANE CHAIN- Stop Live Exports

Cruelty at Hawkesbury Abattoir

2012-02-14T11:04:00.001+11:00

We’ve recently received a number of questions from supporters regarding the footage from the Hawkesbury abattoir in NSW that was recently exposed by Animal Liberation NSW:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/cruelty-video-rogue-abattoir-checked-four-times-in-a-year-20120210-1saat.html (Warning: article contains a video featuring graphic content)

WSPA believes that the cruelty seen at the Hawkesbury abattoir was abhorrent. The brutality that was displayed is neither legal nor acceptable here in Australia.

In Australia there are laws protecting animals, which is why WSPA believes that animals should be processed in this country. However, we only advocate for domestic processing of animals where the abattoir pre-stuns animals and meets all relevant codes, acts, regulations and laws, and where the abattoir operations are closely monitored by the relevant authorities.

WSPA has campaigned against the live export of animals for a number of years. Live export is an inherently cruel practice and WSPA is searching for the most humane solution. We believe that where onshore processing follows the necessary protocols, including pre-stunning animals, this is best for the animals and best for the Australian economy too.

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) which has worked with us on the campaign to end live animal export, has also strongly condemned the actions of this abattoir.

Any additional questions regarding live animal export can be sent to humanechain@wspa.org.au

LIVE EXPORT CANDIDATE SPEAKS ABOUT UPCOMING ELECTION

2012-02-08T11:31:00.003+11:00

This weekend, a by-election is being held in Port Adelaide for the seat of South Australian Treasurer. Colin Thomas (pictured below) is running for this seat as an Independent candidate on a “Ban Live Export” platform.

WSPA’s Campaign Officer Sharon Baldwin recently discussed with Mr Thomas about his campaign and why live animal export is such an important issue to voters.

WSPA: Can you tell us a little more about your background?

COLIN THOMAS: As a former Greens member, I established and convened the first ever South Australian Greens group dedicated to tackling animal protection issues. Since early 2009 I have been a central figure in organising protests and fronting the media in efforts to ban the cruel sport of jumps racing in South Australia. I am vegetarian, a lover of nature, passionate about protecting and preserving the planet we live on, and I am running as an Independent (Ban Live Animal Exports) candidate in the Port Adelaide by-election on February 11. I live at Largs Bay in Adelaide with my partner and five month old twins.

WSPA: Why is live animal export such an important issue to people in Port Adelaide?

COLIN THOMAS: Given the widespread coverage last year of the sadistic and cruel practices in many Indonesian abattoirs, the issue of live animal exports was still fresh in the minds of many Australians when again it was brought to people's attention here at Port Adelaide. More than 100 concerned citizens held spirited and vocal protests over several days, angry at the suffering of thousands of sheep on board a broken down ship that was bound for the Middle East. Port Adelaide is one of the central exit points for sheep exports destined for that part of the world.

WSPA: What do you hope to achieve if elected?

THOMAS: By securing as many votes as possible, and taking votes away from the major parties in the process, I hope to send a clear and unambiguous message that everyday citizens have had enough of the unnecessary cruelty of live animal exports, whether that is cattle to Indonesia, sheep to the Middle East or any other form of live animal export. The opportunity to raise the profile of the live animal exports issue again was too good to miss.

WSPA: How can interested supporters in Adelaide help with your election?

COLIN THOMAS: With this in mind, I am seeking volunteers for an hour or two to help give out “How to Vote” cards on polling day, Saturday February 11. Post-election evaluations of previous state and federal elections have always pointed to a better result for any candidate the more polling booths they cover on polling day. Please contact me at trufflesgonewild@hotmail.com if you would like to help out on the day.

Please note this interview is posted for informational purposes only. WSPA does not endorse any particular political candidates, and the views expressed here by Mr Thomas are his own.

Minister flies out to shore up new live export rules

2012-01-24T13:07:00.002+11:00

As reported in today's article from Sydney Morning Herald, Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, is traveling this week to the Middle East to discuss animal welfare standards with regards to live exports.

The trip comes following the Minister’s imposed deadline of 1 March to enact new animal welfare guidelines and “supply chain assurances.”

Live export companies have been crying out against these new guidelines, predicting that the new framework will result in decreased shipments for 2012. A recent article in Meat Trade News daily even wondered if this could be signaling a dismal future for the industry, asking “Are live exports coming to an end?”

The fact is, demand for live exports is rapidly decreasing, and Australians have come to realise the impact that this inhumane practice has on animals. While WSPA salutes Minister Ludwig’s efforts towards animal welfare, we question the time and effort being spent on so-called improvements that the industry is not getting behind.

The Minister could instead focus on supporting our processing sector in Australia, which supports manufacturing jobs in rural and regional areas. The economic advantages are irrefutable - a sheep processed in Australia is worth 20% more than one processed overseas.

Thousands of sheep die each year on board live export vessels from starvation and disease. We are killing animals and leaking money. The Minister needs to re-focus on the chilled meat trade, which is better for Australia and better for the sheep and cattle.

Work to help animals as a WSPA intern!

2012-01-17T10:41:00.007+11:00

This weekend, some of our Sydney-based volunteer Captains got together in the WSPA office to lend their time to helping wrap up our Move Forward initiative by assisting with the glamourous task of data entry.

It was a huge help to the office, and we'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to Nami, Matthew, Rosalba, Sy, Alen, Michelle, Stefan, and Jim!

We'll have lots of opportunities in the coming year for supporters to get involved, making a difference. Currently we're recruiting for a volunteer internship position. Here's more information:

Position Description:

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is recruiting at part-time intern to work in our Sydney office. We’re looking for someone who can work at least 20 hours/week but are flexible with timing.

Intern will assist with our Humane Chain campaign and the implementation of an exciting new supporter-driven project focusing on raising public awareness. This is an excellent opportunity for a recent grad, someone looking to move into the nonprofit sector or a more seasoned pro, simply wanting to work on a meaningful cause.

Specific duties to include:
• Volunteer management including maintaining a schedule of volunteer activities
• Seeking out opportunities to raise public awareness such as events and festivals, as well as social media
• Assist with the creation of promotional materials
• Assisting with mailings, data entry and other administrative tasks as necessary
Skills required:
• Excellent people skills – experience managing people or working with volunteers is very helpful
• Highly organised, able to manage time efficiently and work well, both independently and as part of a team.
• A passion for animal welfare
• An interest and experience in social media is helpful
• Also helpful but not necessary is experience in Photoshop/graphic design

Although this is an unpaid internship there are lots of opportunities to learn more about campaigning, political lobbying, and animal welfare generally, depending on your areas of interest.

To Apply:
Please send a CV and cover letter to sharonbaldwin@wspa.org.au by 30 January. This is an unpaid position to commence ASAP and run through May.

The Inherent Cruelty of Live Exports

2012-01-10T10:33:00.003+11:00

News reported in The Australian last week again throws up questions regarding the ability of live exporters to influence slaughter practices in importing countries.

The paper says: “The first independent audits of Indonesian abattoirs wanting to import and process Australian cattle have found local workers initially failed to meet animal welfare standards, killing cows incorrectly and using blades that were not sharp enough”.

Whilst the report states that corrective action was taken, I have to wonder how many more animals must suffer. Even if the knife does remain sharp, the fact that some animals are being slaughtered whilst fully conscious is simply unacceptable.

As WSPA has said time and time again to decision-makers and to the panel at both live export inquiries last year, the live trade is inherently cruel. It is fraught with animal welfare issues, from loading, to the long distance transportation and of course the slaughter issues in importing countries.

For example, it is very difficult to mitigate some of the animal welfare issues on board a three week boat journey to the Middle East.

We know that sheep transported to the Middle East experience immense suffering, including cramped conditions which results in injury and diseases such as salmonellosis and pink eye.

At an RSPCA Live Export forum last year, I learned of additional factors that cause suffering including the effects of high levels of humidity, problems associated with animals having to lie down in their own urine and faeces, how ship motion and noise and vibration cause stress, and how changes in lighting can be an issue. There is also a higher mortality rate among rams because of head-butting, aggression and mounting.

There is no such thing as humane live export, but there is a solution to the problem that will benefit Australian animals and the Australian economy. We can spend millions, trying to solve the unsolvable, or we can transition to an expanded chilled meat trade that supports jobs in regional and rural areas. WSPA will continue to work with the Government in 2012 to show them again that there is an alternative.

If you haven’t done so already, why not join 110,000 other like minded individuals and head to our website at www.humanechain.org and sign a letter to your MP. Every action shows that we will not accept the cruelty of live exports and helps educate others about the alternative.

WSPA Campaign Manager, Jodie Jankevics

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

2011-12-22T10:21:00.007+11:00

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

2011-12-16T09:38:00.004+11:00

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

2011-12-14T14:09:00.005+11:00

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

2011-12-05T14:42:00.005+11:00

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

2011-12-01T10:29:00.002+11:00

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.

Help end Labor’s support of live export at this weekend’s National Conference

2011-11-29T15:44:00.004+11:00

Since our Move Forward initiative began in October, supporters from all over the country have helped make significant progress towards our aim of changing Labor’s policy on live exports. With volunteer Captains in over 100 electorates, together we’ve been able to achieve:

Media coverage across the country where volunteer captains have worked with their local communities to demonstrate their opposition to live animal export

An increase in awareness amongst Labor representatives of the benefits of transitioning away from live exports

Over 11,000 new WSPA live export petition signatures, showing that the Australian public still wants to see live exports phased out

Watch the short video above to see Australians in action right across the nation.

Following all this activity, just last week MP Melissa Parke confirmed that an amendment to the Labor Policy Platform will be debated this weekend at Labor’s National Conference. The amendment will call for a four-year transition from live export to chilled meat exports, while supporting industry investment in the infrastructure necessary for a strengthened Australian meat processing industry.

You can help get this amendment passed and help end Labor’s support for the cruel trade

It’s just four days until the Labor Conference, but it’s not too late for you to take action to help end the cruelty of live exports:

1. Meet, write to, or call your State or Federal Labor MP, or Senator, asking them to support the live export amendment at the National Labor Conference. You can find your Federal MP contact details at www.humanechain.org/take-action

2. Call your local talkback radio station and voice your opposition to the live export trade

3. Ask your friends to take action, by sharing a link to: www.humanechain.org/take-action

This vital shift in Labor policy would allow Labor MPs to act, and work to diversify agricultural opportunities beyond this inherently cruel trade. Wouldn’t this be a great start to the New Year?

Senate Live Export Report Prolongs Misery and Stifles Opportunity For Genuine Reform

2011-11-24T14:55:00.004+11:00

A new Senate inquiry released last night into the live export industry has failed to address the serious welfare and employment concerns of the Australian public.

WSPA is disappointed that submissions of support for a phase out of live export, due to the inherent welfare risks involved in the trade, noted by a number of key animal protection organisations, were not adequately reflected within the recommendations.

Campaign Manager Jodie Jankevics said, “Today, live export is still an industry where sheep and cattle can be slaughtered inhumanely, while fully conscious, and tens of thousands of animals will still die horrific deaths from stress, starvation and disease on lengthy and overcrowded sea voyages. This is something the Australian public will never accept.”

“It makes no sense that these recommendations continue to protect an industry in the North that is struggling to make significant profits and beholden to importing country demands, for example the weight restrictions placed by Indonesia, when there is a golden opportunity to create security, jobs and welfare guarantees by backing the chilled meat export alternative.

It is however pleasing to see that Senators realise the North is currently too heavily reliant on the inherently risky live trade, and that processing infrastructure needs to be considered.

WSPA is not calling for an overnight ban, but a properly managed transition to a local chilled meat export industry that can protect and create more Australian rural jobs, result in higher profitability through value add opportunities, continue to provide farmers with a market for their animals that isn’t beholden to foreign government policy, and address the public’s welfare concerns.

RAIN HAIL OR SHINE SYDNEY RESIDENTS ARE COMITTED TO ENDING LIVE EXPORT

2011-11-23T11:38:00.005+11:00

Over 700 Australians from Labor MP Tanya Plibersek’s electorate of Sydney have joined www.humanechain.org united against the cruel and economically backward live animal export trade.

Despite wet conditions a group of volunteers led by vet student and President of the University of Sydney Animal Welfare Society Sy Woon, wearing animal shaped billboards, delivered end live export petition figures to Ms Plibersek’s office this morning.

In a press release today Sy said, “We're here to tell people that live export hasn’t gone away, and the issues haven’t been solved. Australian sheep and cattle still endure overcrowded and deadly transportation to distant countries, where they are subjected to brutal treatment and inhumane slaughter - often whilst fully conscious. It’s essential that local politicians understand the public outrage.”

Today’s protest, a replica of that held in Melbourne just last week, is part of a nationwide program of local events co-ordinated by WSPA, which is calling on Labor MP’s to shift support away from live export, and transition to a chilled meat export trade when they meet for the national Labor Party Conference in December. At this stage an amendment will be debated and is currently backed by a number of unions and Members of Parliament.

Alongside the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU), WSPA recently joined forces on a video ‘Live Exports, Jobs and The Economy: a solution to the live animal export trade’, answering crucial questions on the economic and job losses caused by the live trade. Any help to circulate this video is greatly appreciated.

It’s time for Labor to really Move Forward.

Herd of local people hits Melbourne’s streets to demand action from Labor on live exports

2011-11-16T12:33:00.005+11:00

A herd of animal activists wearing sheep and cow shaped billboards delivered end live export petitions and the findings of a new live export public opinion poll to the offices of Martin Ferguson, MP for Batman and Michael Danby, MP for Melbourne Ports today.

The national Lonergan Research survey, was commissioned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and 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 the disgraced live export industry and embrace a transition to locally processed chilled meat export.

The protest is part of a nationwide program of local events co-ordinated by WSPA, which is calling on Labor MP’s to shift support away from live export, and transition to a chilled meat export trade when they meet for the national Labor Party Conference in December.

Adam Valvasori, spokesperson for the group said, “We’re here to let people know that live export is still happening. Australian cows and sheep are still being subjected to long, overcrowded and deadly transportation overseas; with the prospect of inhumane slaughter while fully conscious when they reach foreign abattoirs.

“Our local politicians need to know that the public still care about this national shame, so we’re presenting them with a humanechain.org.au petition, signed by over 800 people in Batman and 700 people in Melbourne Ports calling for an end to live export,” he concluded.

Jodie Jankevics, campaign manager at WSPA said, “Over 100,000 Australians have signed the humanechain.org.au petition calling for an end to live export, and we know many Labor politicians feel that protecting Australian jobs and animals by supporting a transition to chilled meat export makes sense.

“Labor currently supports live export, but the December Labor Party conference gives MP’s the opportunity to vote for a planned transition away from live export, to the more humane and economically viable chilled meat trade.

“We are calling on Martin Ferguson, Michael Danby and the rest of the Labor Party to take a stand for common sense and compassion by supporting a change in party policy that will end this unethical and outdated trade,” she concluded.

FREMANTLE EVENT ATTRACTS A HUGE CROWD IN SUPPORT OF AN END TO LIVE EXPORTS

2011-11-15T10:42:00.011+11:00

Written by WSPA Captain and Stop Live Exports volunteer, Katrina Love

On Sunday 13 November, some 370 people from all walks of life turned up for Stop Live Exports’ Human Chain across Fremantle’s Stirling Bridge as part of the WSPA Move Forward Campaign. We asked people to wear black and to identify themselves with a sign that read “I AM A _________ OPPOSED TO LIVE EXPORT”. We had many nurses, teachers, students, animal lovers, children and dogs, and the odd “meat eater”, “vegan”, “human being” and “Earthling” (ME!).

Overall Australia has exported over 150 million animals for slaughter in the last 30 years. We chose to hold this silent, peaceful demonstration on this particular bridge, as it’s likely up to 120 million of them, began their arduous journey by crossing it.

Our aim was to be a visible reminder to the Government (both State and Federal), the media and to the public, that there is a diverse section of the Australian public who are opposed to live animal export. No matter what changes are made in the importing countries, no matter what the stun rate is, no matter if or how they track animals, it does not alter the fact that the transport will always be inherently cruel.

Jonny Warrington filmed the event and it was photographed by Alex Cearns, a multi-award-winning photographer and close personal friend. Channel 10 turned up, interviewed Greens MP, Lynn McLaren and it aired on the 6 pm news. Channel 7 also turned up and interviewed our office volunteer, Robyn McMahon’s daughter and also aired on the 6 pm news. RTR FM and PerthNow also covered the event, and I was interviewed by both.

The police were very unobtrusive and supportive, with the water-police below even giving us a wave and blast of their siren.

Special thanks go to Jaki Greenfield, WSPA Captain for Fremantle and Stop Live Export’s BLEAT (Ban Live Export Action Team): Lizzy, Jane, Julia, Fern, Michelle and of course, Sandie Rawnsley, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports, who did much of the leg work, but could not be with us on the day.

CAPTAINS HELPING TO END LABORS SUPPORT FOR LIVE EXPORTS AND YOU CAN TOO

2011-11-09T13:12:00.005+11:00

Every year in Australia, millions of animals are transported to ports before being loaded onto overcrowded live export ships where they can experience extreme stress, injury, starvation and illness.

Roaming Captain Anna Ludvik visited Port Adelaide recently commenting that she was confronted by “just how industrial the port is…with odd noises and smells … it is no place for animals”, yet sadly our animals will continue to experience such conditions until the live export trade is phased out in favour of a chilled meat trade.

Captain Anna Ludvik wants Port Adelaide to Move Forward

The Port of Fremantle in Western Australia is instrumental to the live export trade in Australia, which is why this Sunday the 13th of November Stop Live Exports in conjunction with Captains Sandie, Jaki and Katrina will be forming a Human Chain across Stirling Bridge to demonstrate the variety of Australian’s who are united in their opposition of the live export trade. Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke (pictured below) is firmly against the trade, and she is not alone, a recent poll conducted by Lonergan Research, also found that 80% of Australians believe Labor should support a phase out of live export, in favour of a local chilled meat export industry. If you would like to get involved in this great event, please visit the Move Forward Fremantle electorate page, or email sandie@stopliveexports.org for more information.

Fremantle MP Melissa Parke with Move Forward Captains Jaki and Sandie

If you have a sweet tooth, you can make your way to Frankston in Victoria this Saturday the 12th of November where you can find out more about the benefits of phasing out the live export trade from Dunkley Captain Lauren while enjoying a cruelty free cupcake!

Fellow Victorian Captain Chantal will also be raising awareness at the "Celebrating Seville Festival" this Sunday, why not head down with the kids and meet Matilda the cow who is set to make an appearance between photo shoots.

Matilda the Cow is against live animal exports

If you were in the Melbourne botanical gardens over the weekend, you may have seen Captain Ben from Lalor and the "Run for life" team. If you’d like to know more about some of the great work Ben has been doing in his electorate and why he is passionate about ending the live export trade, you can read all about it in this great article from the Star. Well done Ben!

Melbourne runners and the Move Forward crew

If like us, you are inspired by the wonderful actions of WSPA captain’s uniting across Australia and want to get involved, take a look at www.moveforward.org.au where you can get in touch with your local captain, or follow us on facebook to keep up to date with all of the exciting events and media coverage.

Live Animal Export Condemned in National Opinion Poll

2011-11-04T09:31:00.006+11:00

A new national survey commissioned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has revealed 77% of Australians still think the live export industry is cruel, despite Governments recent claims that new reform will reduce the abuse of exported Australian animals.

The poll conducted by Lonergan Research, also found that 80% of Australians believe Labor should support a phase out of live export, in favour of a local chilled meat export industry.

WSPA campaign manager Jessica Borg, said “No amount of spin can disguise the fact that live export is still an industry where sheep and cattle can be slaughtered inhumanely, while fully conscious.”

“Due to live export, tens of thousands of animals will still die horrific deaths from stress, starvation and disease on lengthy and overcrowded sea voyages.

“The poll results show Labor should not underestimate the continuing depth of public concern over this issue.

“In addition, more than 100,000 Australians have joined humanechain.org, WSPA’s online petition calling for an end to the live export trade and continue to do so.

“The local chilled meat export industry is a more humane and profitable alternative to live export and clearly has overwhelming support from the Australian community, as an alternative that also creates more rural jobs.

“The upcoming National Labor conference is a golden opportunity for the party to reconsider their stance, paving the way for a well-managed, practical transition away from the inherently risky live export trade,” she concluded.

Paul Crane, Export and Meat Manager at V&V Walsh’s said, “Labor are planning to pour over $10 million of public money into the live export industry, to help its overseas operations reach a lower standard than we already have in Australia.”

“With government and industry support given to the Australian chilled meat industry instead, we could grow the infrastructure needed to expand a more sustainable and profitable alternative to live export, which also brings bigger benefits to the rural economy and employment.”

LABOR MP’S LINKING IN WITH THE HUMANE CHAIN, YOU CAN TOO

2011-11-03T12:50:00.005+11:00

What a great week for WSPA’s Move Forward campaign, with news of more MP meetings and media coverage starting to take off. Since our last post on media coverage, we’ve now seen this great article come in about Chantal, Captain for the Casey electorate and why she’s passionate about ending live exports.

It’s now more important than ever to keep up this momentum and continue to move the Labor party forward.

Jehni from Canning with supportive Western Australian MLA Tony Buti.

Labor Member for Armadale Tony Buti made it a family affair on Sunday, bringing his wife and children along to Canning Captain Jehni’s Humane Chain stall. It’s always inspiring to see elected members showing an active interest in the concerns of their community. Jehni would like to thank all the wonderful people in Kelmscott and surrounds who helped make the event a success “we gathered hundreds of signatures and helped raise awareness of this issue in our area - great going everyone!”

Serendipity and a keen eye saw Captain Sarah from the Kingston electorate gain a meeting with her federal MP Amanda Rishworth after they ran into each other at Coles this past weekend. Pictured below with Amanda, Sarah is looking forward to the meeting where she plans to discuss the many benefits of phasing out live exports in favour of a chilled meat trade.

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains acted as backdrop to a photo shoot this morning organised by Macquarie electorate’s Captain Linda - we'll post photos up soon!

If you couldn’t make it this morning, why not lend your support to one of the other amazing Move Forward events being held around the country this weekend instead?

If you’re around this Saturday the 5th, head down and say a big hello to Janet on the Gold Coast at the Southport Sharks Farmers Markets, Josh in Mission Beach, QLD or Lena at the Sustainable Living Expo in Hobart. These Captains will be holding Move Forward stalls stocked up with plenty of information, petitions and friendly faces.

With the summer weather well and truly taking hold, why not venture out to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens this Sunday and take part in a Fun Run hosted by Lalor’s Captain Ben Rubens.

Or if you prefer a Sunday trip to the markets, you can stop by the Adelaide Organic & Sustainable Markets where Captains Raelene and Antonietta will be collecting petition signatures and speaking with the public from 9am until 1pm.

Western Australia residents – mark your calendar for this upcoming event organised by Stop Live Exports on 13 November. At 11 am, Captain Sandie, Jaki and Stop Live Exports Katrina are calling on as many people as possible to join them in forming a Human Chain across Stirling Bridge in Fremantle.

We’ll keep bringing you more news about ways you can get involved locally, and don’t forget to look up the page for your electorate to learn more at www.moveforward.org.au

WSPA’s Move Forward Captains in the News

2011-11-01T14:37:00.004+11:00

As we’ve written about in previous posts, our Move Forward captains are doing amazing work around the country, demonstrating that Australians want to see the Labor party really Move Forward and transition away from cruel live exports to the more ethical and viable alternative of a chilled meat trade.

Some of our Captains have been very successful in drumming up local media attention.

Below, Captain Sharni from Malee was featured in an article in her local paper, the Sunraysia Daily.

Captain Barbara in the Braddon electorate also saw her letter to the editor of the Burnie Advocate published in her local paper in Tasmania.

And in case you missed it, our Port Adelaide Captains Raelene and Antonietta made their voices heard in an interview on Radio Adelaide.

Coming up: more radio coverage from Captain Marcos from the Higgins electorate, who will be interviewed this Friday Nov 4 on Joy FM in Melbourne.

Stay tuned for more media coverage coming out over the next few weeks highlighting the work these amazing volunteers are doing because they believe passionately in this cause!

Get involved in one of the many live export events happening across Australia

2011-10-25T11:14:00.006+11:00

There are less than 6 weeks to go until the Federal Labor Conference! This means it’s time for our Move Forward Captains to start focusing more on their goal of reaching out to their local Labor representative and local media.

You can get involved

Sprinting forward in Victoria's Lalor electorate, Captain Ben is hosting a Fun Run at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to raise awareness and encourage people to become "links" in the Humane Chain. If you would like to take part in this great event you can make your way down to "The Tan running track" on Sunday the 6th November for an 11:00 start.

Janet Scott from the Fadden electorate in QLD, held a successful stall in Currumbin as part of Animal Action Day. Janet spent a lovely day by the water chatting to locals and generating interest in the campaign. On the back of this success, Captain Janet will be holding another stall, this time on campus at Griffith University – Gold Coast Campus. If you’re interested in heading down to lend a hand or just to say hello, look out for the bright orange stall near the Link Building from 10:30am-2pm.

Captain Janet's stall in Currumbin

Live in NSW and want to find out more about Move Forward? Sy, one of our co-Captains for the Sydney electorate and the University of Sydney Animal Welfare Society will be holding a stall on campus outside Manning Bar from 1:00-3:00 this Wednesday 26th October.

Several of our Captains around Sydney will also be at the Cruelty Free Festival in Belmore Park, this Sunday 30 October collecting signatures. Look out for the ladies in WSPA t-shirts!

One of the great things about having such a diverse mix of Captains and supporters is that it becomes clear that people from all walks of life are passionate about this cause. As you can see, even our four-legged friends are lending a paw to the cause!

Grayndler Captain Orlena, and Wentworth Captain Rosalba get their dogs in on the campaign!

There are Move Forward events popping up all across Australia so if you’re interested in seeing what’s happening in your electorate you can enter your postcode at www.moveforward.org.au and get in touch with your local Captain.

Ethics and Economics Thrown Overboard in Labor Response to Live Export Review

2011-10-21T14:57:00.002+11:00

It’s “band-aid as usual” stated World Society for the Protection of Animals campaigns manager Jessica Borg, in response to Senator Joe Ludwig’s press conference on proposed live export reform.

A revised industry framework outlined by the Gillard Government still makes exporters ultimately responsible for animal welfare. Yet it has been proven time and again that they have not been able to achieve this. These recommendations do not adequately address the problems that horrified the Australian public in a recent Four Corners documentary, according to WSPA.
Jessica Borg said, “Senator Ludwig’s claim that the new framework will address the Australian public’s disgust around live export is a fantasy.

“Under Labor’s new guidelines exported Australian animals can still be tripped up and then slaughtered while fully conscious, many will still die horrific deaths from stress, starvation and disease on lengthy and overcrowded sea voyages.

“What makes this even more disappointing is that the review has missed the opportunity to explore alternatives to the live export trade. The Government and livestock industry are ignoring the viable alternative – a local chilled meat export industry that protects and creates more Australian rural jobs, results in higher profitability through value add opportunities and addresses the public’s welfare concerns.

“To add insult to injury the Labor Party are planning to spend $5 million of public money to help the big money live export corporations prosper.

“The costs that Government and ultimately producers will have to bear in implementing these new guidelines could be better spent encouraging processing facilities in the north, and limiting the number of animals bound for live export.

“This weak response is a policy failure of ethics, a failure of economics, a failure of leadership and a failure of common sense, that we believe the public will want reversed at the Labor Party conference in December,” she concluded.

GAINING MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD

2011-10-19T15:19:00.004+11:00

What a busy week we have had, with 46 new Captain applications and countless more people putting their hands up to help out their local Captain. Our workload has certainly increased but with it so does our ability to reach even more people across Australia.

Speaking of working hard, our Captains have had another busy week fulfilling their 3 goals:

1. Inspire at least 100 people to join the Humane Chain in their electorate
2. Obtain media coverage of their activities and three key messages
3. Deliver the message to their Labor representative

Bronwyn from La Trobe collected a massive 76 petition signatures in just 2 hours this week, just imagine what she can achieve in the 7 weeks left until the Federal Labor conference! Her Federal MP Ms Laura Smyth should certainly stand up and take notice of the strong desire within her community.

Port Adelaide captains Raelene and Antonietta flew the flag for WSPA this week with an informative interview on Radio Adelaide. They were both great ambassadors for the Move Forward Campaign and used the opportunity to drum up some publicity for a stall they are holding at their local Organic Markets on the 5th of November. Find out more on the Port Adelaide Facebook page.

Anna on Cobb Highway in outback NSW

Our roaming captain Anna (pictured above) is on the road for animals, tackling this issue Australia-wide and listening to the voices of a variety of stakeholders within the live export industry. She has also been collecting petition signatures in areas without Captains and has lent her valuable experience to fellow Captains along the way, recently meeting up with Mallee Captain Sharni.

This is just one example of the collaboration that we are seeing across the board, with Captains sharing ideas and support over a coffee, over the phone and even on Facebook!

A successful Move Forward stall in Canberra

On Sunday at the first ever Living Green Festival held in Canberra, Fraser Captains Suzanne and Shelley (pictured above) gathered over 200 signatures (and sampled some yummy vegan cupcakes) at their Move Forward stall. From what we have heard the girls had a great day in the sunshine, raising awareness and chatting to like-minded people about all of the compelling reasons to phase out the live export trade once and for all.

Honourable mentions this week also go to Theresa Skrzypko (Calwell), George Meier (Hindmarsh), Bronwyn Graham (La Trobe) and Janet Scott from Fadden for securing meetings with their Labor MP’s. This is no small feat considering how busy many MPs can be and what a great opportunity this will be to educate Labor on this important issue.

Inspired by the work of these great ambassadors and keen to help out?

Visit www.moveforward.org.au to see how you can lend a helping hand or encouragement to your local Captain.

AUSTRALIA, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM!

2011-10-18T14:46:00.003+11:00

By now, we all know about the damage the inherently cruel live export trade has done to our reputation as an ethical nation, but we must also consider that our jobs and the Australian economy are suffering too.

There is overwhelming community support on this issue with people across Australia asking “WHAT CAN I DO?” and “WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?” Recently, WSPA and Grant Courtney, Federal president of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) joined forces on a video that delves into these issues and answers crucial questions on the economic and jobs side of live export.

Since the video went live on October 9th, the Move Forward campaign has had 46 new Captain applications and counting - add this to the existing Captains and we have a running total of Captains in 104 electorates Australia-wide!

This extraordinary response highlights the passion the Australian public have for bringing an end to this cruel trade, and as a recent Galaxy poll reflects; over 86% of Australia wants the trade to end if there’s an alternative that saves jobs.

That alternative is a chilled meat trade. There has been a lot of talk by the live export industry about jobs that will be lost if the industry ends, but what they fail to mention is the jobs that would be gained by expanding our already successful and established chilled meat trade. AMIEU estimates that live export has cost 20,000 jobs in Australia since 1980 with 35,000 more at risk, and a chilled meat trade gives farmers more certainty and a more stable platform for selling their livestock.

Take action today by sharing the video with your friends and family to raise awareness of the many benefits of ending live animal exports.

WSPA Supporters kick off new “Move Forward” Campaign!

2011-10-12T11:36:00.002+11:00

We are in the midst of exciting times at the WSPA office; from boardroom assembly lines, to post office dashes, arms overflowing with padded post bags, to send off to our dedicated Captains.

Our Captains, spread throughout 80 electorates across Australia have jumped right into our new “Move Forward” campaign!

Our group is a flurry of excitement and collaboration, as Captains and WSPA Buddies share ideas and encouragement on how to get the Labor party to Move Forward on their live export policy. Live exports are inherently cruel, and the only way to protect our animals is to phase out the trade altogether.

Already we have begun to see photos appearing of Move Forward events such as the stall pictured below held by Fremantle’s Jaki Greenfeld and Canning’s Jehni Thomas-Wurth on Saturday at the World Event to End Animal Cruelty. Jaki and Jehni reported that it was a great day full of fun activities, music and most importantly, information about how to make the world a better place for animals. We are excited how the WA teams are working collaboratively and report they are all meeting up soon to discuss even more ideas to get the Move Forward message out there.

Artists Nicole Tattersall (Melbourne) and Lyndel Thomas (Bendigo) are both putting their inspired minds to work the best way they know how, creating fabulous artworks behind the scenes.

Not one to shy away from a curly question is Ann Middlebrough from Isaacs, who has organised a “Move Forward” table at a local trivia night in Keysborough. Captains Taylor Theggie from the Chisholm electorate and Elisabeth Turner from Melbourne Ports will also be there to lend support and trivia prowess to the cause.

We have been hugely encouraged by the high level of enthusiasm and the great start to the campaign, with just over 7 weeks to go until the Federal Labor Conference and many more activities in the works, we’re looking forward to sharing plenty more stories and photos of the wonderful achievements of our Move Forward Captains.

Want to get in on the action?

You can join a team in your community! Find out how to contact your local group through our website.

By Bec Linigen, Campaign Intern, WSPA Australia

WSPA U.S. SEES SUCCESS ON LIVE EXPORT CAMPAIGN

2011-09-23T16:31:00.003+10:00

While Australia holds the dubious title of being the world’s largest exporter of live animals for slaughter, the cruel practice is not unique to this country.

10,000 – 12,000 pigs from mainland U.S. are transported to Hawaii every year. During the one-week voyage, pigs are forced to endure cramped, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions; many suffer stress-related illnesses, horrific injuries and diseases (not unlike the conditions faced by Australian animals). Those who survive the trip are then kept in cages in Hawaii, slaughtered and sold to consumers.

Recently though, two supermarket chains in Hawaii – Foodland Super Market Ltd and Times Supermarkets – have agreed to no longer purchase pork products from pigs transported live, citing animal welfare reasons for their change.

The supermarket chains decided to adjust their pork purchasing policies in light of WSPA’s recent “No Paradise for Pigs” investigation.

Bob Stout, President at Times Supermarkets, said his company made the right decision to stop supporting the long-distance transport of pigs for slaughter.

“Just because something is legal and approved by the appropriate agencies, doesn't necessarily make it right. We have an obligation as a retailer to do the right thing while servicing our customers. In this case, we are doing precisely that – changing to a more humane method of procuring pork and, at the same time, providing our customers with what they want.”

WSPA encourages Hawaii-based retailers to consider safer and more humane approaches – such as supplementing local production with imported, USDA-certified chilled and frozen meat from animals raised and killed humanely in mainland U.S. These alternatives not only help eliminate needless animal suffering, but would also encourage sustainable agriculture and job growth in Hawaii.

And earlier this year, WSPA and its partners, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Animal Rights Hawaii, worked successfully to stop SB249 – a bill that allotted more than $1.5 million in state funds to purchase a privately-owned slaughterhouse on Oahu.

We’re really encouraged by the momentous milestones achieved in the global movement to end live animal exports.

72 Captains – and WSPA’s “Move Forward” Campaign is Still Growing

2011-09-21T16:31:00.002+10:00

Recently we launched our “Move Forward” initiative to encourage the Labor Party phase out live animal exports.
We were blown away by the response from supporters and are excited to announce that we now have Captains signed up in 72 different electorates around Australia!
And it’s obvious our Captains are excited as well as we’ve been hearing things from them like:

“Hey all, just wanted to say it’s really inspiring to see people checking in from around the country, ready to knock down this insidious practice.” – Benjamin from NSW

“I'm in the Canning electorate and very happy to team up with like minded people in my area. Let's remind our elected members that we are here for the long haul.” – Jehni from WA

It’s not too late to sign up to be a Captain! We’re still looking for Captains especially in the following electorates:

NSW: Banks, Barton, Dobell, Fowler, Greenway, Hunter, McMahon, Richmond, Robertson, Shortland, Watson, Werriwa

VIC: Corangamite, Corio, Gorton, Holt, Jagajaga, McEwen, Scullin, Wills

QLD: Blair, Lilley, Moreton, Oxley, Petrie

SA: Kingston, Wakefield

TAS: Bass, Lyons

WA: Perth

NT: Lingiari

If you’re unsure of your electorate, you can look yours up here.

You can sign up to be a Captain by using our quick, easy form.

We’ll also be letting you know soon how you can help out a team in your area if there’s already a Captain there, or you don’t have time to take on the Captain’s role yourself.

Katherine abattoir finally put down

2011-09-20T16:24:00.002+10:00

The following piece was originally published on ABC Rural.

The Katherine abattoir in the Northern Territory is being dismantled after being mothballed for the last ten years.

Teys Bros has finally made the decision to sell, sighting the live export trade as the reason why the plant is no longer viable.

Former abattoir worker Pat Carmody was emotional as he watched processing equipment auctioned off.

"She'll go now. It would have been a monumental task and a huge cost to kickstart it again, but I believe everything will be pulled down, the scrap metal boys will go in and clean it up and then it will be subdivided into land blocks."

Katherine mayor Anne Shepherd says the abattoir contributed significantly to the town in years gone by.

"It employed a lot of people, put a lot of money into the town. It's quite a sad occasion I think.

"The fact that we couldn't revive the meat works during that ten years is a great shame because I think there was potential there."

Live Export and the Labor Party: An Update on the Debate

2011-09-14T14:17:00.003+10:00

Sadly, despite incredible recent community outrage over the live export industry and it putting our animals, our existing processing industry and Australia’s reputation at risk, the trade continues, with one of the largest shipments of cattle ever leaving Queensland this week.

Also recently the Senate Inquiry into live exports has completed the public consultation process and we are awaiting the outcome. The Bill Farmer Animal Welfare Review report was due at the end of August. We haven’t seen the outcome yet, but we’ll keep you updated.

At the moment, the Government seem ‘officially’ keen to keep the live trade going. However, phasing out live exports simply ticks all the boxes. We know it would be better for animal welfare, jobs, our economy and it’s what the community want as well. The local meat processing industry also provides a more stable base for farmers than risky live exports.

Here’s what Simon Crean, the Minister for Regional Australia said in a media release about the Northern Beef Strategy last December:

"The beef sector is already a key part of the northern Australian economy and offers significant potential for further growth," Mr Crean said.

"Now is the time to capitalise on this potential by improving the value-add and creating sustainable jobs. For example, we need to investigate the potential for the establishment of meat processing facilities in the north"

Labor MP Simon Crean

We think it’s great that Labor are already starting to look at alternatives. Now it’s time they followed through and phased out the trade once and for all.

We need the Labor Party to really ‘Move Forward’
To encourage this, we have just launched the innovative “Move Forward” campaign, created with our supporters and volunteers. This is all about capitalising on a great opportunity that is coming our way. On December 3rd and 4th the Labor party will hold their National Conference, the party’s highest decision-making forum. The conference usually takes place only once every three years, and during it they’ll consider amendments to the Party platform and a number of resolutions.

Over 80 Australians have already signed up to become Captains for change leading up to the conference but we still need a few more!

What’s a Captain?

Captains are WSPA supporters who are keen to educate and inspire their local community and their Labor representatives on not just animal welfare issues, but the economic benefits of ending the live animal export trade. Captains might like to grab a few friends or assemble a team to help them do this.

We invite you to join us in this exciting initiative by applying to be a Captain using this quick, easy form no later than Friday 16 September.

If you decide to take on this challenge and help millions of animals, we’ll supply you with a free Captain Action Pack full of the tools you’ll need to be a campaigner for animals. You’ll also be assigned a WSPA Buddy who will help you carry out a few key actions. All you need is the will and a couple of hours spare each week from October through mid-November.

Stay tuned for further updates!

Join our new initiative and show the Labor party a clear way forward for live exports

2011-09-06T13:12:00.006+10:00

We have a huge opportunity for supporters to get even more involved in our Humane Chain campaign aimed at ending live animal exports.

On December 3rd and 4th the Labor party will hold their National Conference. This usually takes place only once every three years, and during it they’ll consider amendments to the Party platform and a number of resolutions.

This is a critical window of opportunity!

So on September 1st a group of WSPA supporters, volunteers and staff got together to put together a plan to ‘move forward’.

Together we decided that from now until December, we’ll be asking our supporters to encourage the Labor Party to adopt a policy at their upcoming conference which aims to phase out live exports. In addition we’ll be asking them to instead support the alternative; the alternative being a more humane and economically viable chilled meat trade, which would keep our animals and our jobs here in Australia.

There are already a number of Labor representatives onside with this argument. MP Kelvin Thomson was recently quoted saying “I personally think the live export trade should come to an end, and I believe both animal welfare interests and our economic interests would be better served by our processing all meat domestically in Australia, as New Zealand does.”

However at the moment, it seems MPs like Kelvin Thomson are forced to vote with their party, highlighting the need to change Labor’s stance to allow change to happen!

Here’s where we need your help.
We’re looking for 100 Captains around Australia to lead their electorate in lobbying and public engagement activities.

If you decide to take on this challenge, and help millions of animals, we’ll supply you with a free Captain action pack, full of the tools, props and information you’ll need to be a campaigner for animals. We’ll also discuss our plan with you in further detail and we’ll assign a WSPA Buddy to you, to support you the whole way through! All you need is the will and a couple of hours spare each week leading up till the Labor Conference.

We invite you to join us on this exciting initiative by applying to be a Captain using this quick, easy form no later than 16 September.

As a Captain you’ll lead your team throughout October and November to:

1. Inspire at least 100 people to join the Humane Chain in your electorate
2. Obtain media coverage of your campaign activities
3. Deliver the message to your Labor representative that ending live export is the clear way forward for Australia

We hope our video will inspire you to come on board as we move forward together to end the cruel live animal export trade!

Labor backbenchers get tough on live export

2011-08-29T15:37:00.006+10:00

We've heard from many supporters in recent days disappointed to hear that the bills put forward by Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt were not passed. This was in part due to the fact that Parliamentarians were not allowed a conscience vote, therefor many MPs who otherwise may have supported these bills were instead expected to vote based on party line.

"The Labor Party has a 100 year plus history of debating and voting collectively on bills. If a Labor MP votes against a Caucus decision concerning legislation, what is referred to as 'crossing the floor', the usual penalty is suspension or expulsion" said Labor MP Kelvin Thomson.

However, MPs have shown that they’re continuing to scrutinise this trade in other ways. During an adjournment debate on Thursday the 18th of August, MP Kelvin Thomson went on to say:

"The Government has established a Caucus Working Group which is considering live animal export issues. It has also commissioned the Farmer Review of the live export market that will cover all animals and all markets. I understand the Review will provide its report and recommendations by the end of this month. Given these opportunities, I will be working hard to secure the decent and humane animal welfare outcomes to which I know many Australians aspire.

I personally think the live export trade should come to an end, and I believe both animal welfare interests and our economic interests would be better served by our processing all meat domestically in Australia, as New Zealand does. But while ever this trade continues, both government and industry must move to implement stunning on all occasions, because until this happens this issue simply will not go away."

And just last week, Kelvin Thomson was joined by his colleagues MP Melissa Parke and MP Janelle Saffin at WSPA's Global Humane Chain press conference, where they accepted a petition from tens of thousands of WSPA supporters calling on the Government to end the trade. You can see Kelvin Thomson’s acceptance speech, along with WSPA's Jessica Borg, and processor Peter Cody in this video.

Another Labor MP has also come out in regards to live export cruelty of late. South Australian MP Tony Zappia lodged a notice of motion to the Labor caucus calling for stricter conditions for countries importing Australian animals.

These provisions would make it mandatory for abattoirs to stun animals before killing them and be written into federal legislation.

"If live export is to continue for the foreseeable future, the very least we can do is to properly protect the welfare of animals and the most basic protection we can afford them is pre-slaughter stunning” said MP Melissa Parke in support of this move.

Stayed tuned for further developments regarding the live export debate.

Global Condemnation of ‘Un-Australian’ Live Export Delivered To Labor Members of Parliament

2011-08-24T14:30:00.006+10:00

The World Society for the Protection of Animals has presented Members of Parliament Kelvin Thomson, Janelle Saffin and Melissa Parke with a global photo petition against live export at Parliament House, Canberra.

In accepting the petition Kelvin Thomson MP said “I find the animal welfare and economic arguments for a transition away from live export to chilled meat export compelling.”

MPs Melissa Parke and Kelvin Thomson accepting the Global Petition from
Campaign Manager, Jessica Borg

Since WSPA launched its Humane Chain campaign, over 170,000 supporters have taken action internationally, calling for an end to the live export trade. In the last month, over 11,000 of them have uploaded photos with arms outstretched to visually represent this call, forming a global ‘Humane Chain’.

In addition to the petition, Labor MPs also heard from a representative of major Australian processed meat exporter, V&V Walsh’s, about the negative impact of live export on rural jobs and economic growth, and how a transition to local processing for export could provide employment and stability across the livestock industry supply chain.

Jessica Borg, Campaigns Manager at WSPA said, “We’ve had an overwhelming response from our supporters right around the world, horrified and surprised the Australian Government are condoning the cruelty involved in live exports. In the last month alone, over 11,000 people have joined our photo petition from over 80 countries, including Egypt, Brazil, the USA, Great Britain, Italy and even Panama.”

A WSPA supporter in Rio de Janeiro

“The fallout from exposure of welfare abuses in the Australian live export industry has been reported in mainstream international media, and across our global animal welfare network. Leaving many asking why, as a developed country, Australia allows this double standard to continue.”

“New Zealand effectively banned live export in 2003 and replaced it with a more profitable, and ethical, domestically processed chilled meat export trade – hard questions need to be asked about why Australia isn’t doing the same.”

Peter Cody, plant manager at Australian processed meat exporter V&V Walsh’s, said, “There’s been a lot of talk in the media about financial and job losses if live export winds down. The irony is that live export is actually stifling growth and job opportunities in rural areas where we could be processing and value adding across the supply chain.”

Peter Cody, Plant Manager, V&V Walsh’s

”What’s been lost in the storm around live export recently is a practical and constructive debate about the alternatives. By transitioning to a chilled meat trade, we’ll actually keep more money in the Australian economy, create more jobs in rural communities and we’ll have a more sustainable and stable market option for producers,” he concluded.

Jessica Borg, Campaigns Manager at WSPA said, “Over 170,000 of WSPA’s supporters and the Australian meat processing industry call on the Government to recognise the golden opportunity they have to make some meaningful progress in this ongoing catastrophe; shift Labor Party policy away from unquestioning support of live export and put a framework in place to replace live exports with a locally processed chilled meat export trade.”

For more information on this issue and to take action, visit HumaneChain.org

WSPA presents at Senate Inquiry into Live Exports

2011-08-22T14:48:00.001+10:00

On the 10th August I gave a presentation to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural Affairs and Transport at their inquiry into animal welfare standards in the live export industry. In my opening statements I outlined the inherent cruelty in the industry, how we cannot trust the live export industry to care for our animals and how investing in local processing and jobs would provide a more stable base for farmers and our economy.

Of course there were opinions on a range of issues and what I am really hoping for now is that everyone can remain open to new ideas and ways of doing things. With change, there are always challenges and we can’t use them as an excuse not to do anything if we are to be a progressive nation that takes animal welfare seriously.

WSPA’s campaign has seen over 175,000 people from Australia and all over the world take action to let the Government know that they want a phase out of the live trade. People want to find alternatives to live exports and at this stage the Australian Government is not listening to these people, preferring to keep with the status quo, albeit with a few more rules and regulations.

As well as representations from Animals Australia and the RSPCA, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) also presented at the hearing, making it clear that phasing out the trade is an investment in Australian jobs. Especially in light of the global economic downturn, which could potentially lead to a removal of overseas Government subsidies for live animals, we should look to end our reliance on these and would be better off investing in our own processing and value added meat products.

And as I told the Committee, it’s important for people to realise that Indonesia and the Middle East are not our only markets, there are so many opportunities and we just need to look for them. In fact, we don’t even need to look for them, our chilled meat industry is already going tremendously well, and we can continue to build on this.

We will continue to work towards a phase out of live animal exports for slaughter and it’s great to see so many of our supporters acting to achieve this also.

Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Officer, WSPA Australia (pictured above)

Turkish scenes reignite live export row as ban bid defeated

2011-08-19T12:58:00.002+10:00

Please note: The following article was originally published on The Australian.

GRAPHIC footage depicting animals being inhumanely slaughtered in Turkey is being investigated by the government's independent live export review as pressure intensifies to end the trade.

Animals Australia released images yesterday of conscious cattle and sheep being hoisted above the ground by their hind legs and flailing as their throats were cut, in violation of international welfare standards.

The covert footage, taken at two abattoirs in Turkey in recent weeks, comes as independent Andrew Wilkie vowed to introduce a new bill to make stunning mandatory after his earlier attempts to permanently ban live exports failed.

Mr Wilkie's private member's bill, along with Greens MP Adam Bandt's bill to end the trade, were yesterday voted down in parliament after they received no support from either government or opposition MPs.

Mr Wilkie, Mr Bandt, the RSPCA and Animals Australia campaign director Lyn White said they were disappointed by the lack of support by Labor MPs, especially those who had earlier voiced their concern after the month-long trade ban to Indonesia was lifted last month.

Ms White said she was unable to confirm the animals in the footage were Australian, but that the abattoirs regularly received Australian cattle and sheep.

"This is a routine method that occurred in nine of the 10 abattoirs that we visited," Ms White said. "This absolutely breaches . . . the international guidelines that the Department of Agriculture have said for years had to be the base-level standards for the importation of Australian livestock.

"So it has to be asked why export permits have been provided to Turkey."

According to the latest government figures, 397,917 sheep and 105,417 cattle were exported from Australia to Turkey in the 18 months to June.

Senator Ludwig said in a statement yesterday the Animals Australia footage was being investigated by Bill Farmer as part of the independent review of the trade.

Sheepmeat Council chief executive Ron Cullen said what was shown in the footage was "unacceptable". He said it showed the need for the industry to work in countries like Turkey to improve slaughter practices.

Labor MP Kelvin Thomson, who was a key member to voice concerns over the lifting of the month-long ban on the Indonesian cattle trade, yesterday defended his decision not to support the two private member's bills.

He said if he had crossed the floor it would have breached party rules and he would have faced suspension or expulsion.

Call on the Government to End Live Animal Exports

2011-08-17T13:00:00.011+10:00

This Thursday, 18 August the Federal Government will vote on Bills calling for a phase out of live exports over the next three years (with tougher restrictions placed on the trade in the mean time). As both major parties currently support the live export trade, the RSPCA and Animals Australia are calling to allow a Conscience Vote, which would allow MPs to vote against their party line and instead vote in accordance with their ethics, and beliefs of their constituents.

Interestingly, the Labor Party recently posted a question on their Facebook page: “Should Australia ban live animal exports permanently?” As of this posting, the “Yes” responses outnumbered “No”s over 2 to 1 with nearly 9,000 voters indicating that live exports should be banned.

What can you do to help end live export?

1. Call your MP today – Let them know that their constituents want to see an end to live exports. You can find your MP’s contact details here.

Alicia in Mallorca, Spain

2. Join WSPA’s Global Humane Chain – Nearly 9,000 WSPA supporters from around the world have uploaded their photos to our visual petition, calling for an end to live exports and it’s not too late to add yours.

Heather in Italy

The photos will be presented to the Government next week. Below are some more of our favourite images that supporters have added to the Chain.

Ellis in The Netherlands

Steve in Antarctica

Marion in San Francisco

You can see more photos, including those of WSPA staff on our Facebook page.

It is clear that not just Australians, but people from across the globe are watching the Australian Government to see if they will do the right thing by calling for an end to live animal exports.

Help End Farm Animal Cruelty by Becoming a WSPA Intern

2011-08-16T10:30:00.006+10:00

Are you looking to make a difference for animals? If you've got time from Sept-Dec and are based in Sydney, consider joining WSPA's team by applying to be an intern.

Position Description:

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is recruiting two interns to work full-time in our Sydney office from Sept – Dec.

Interns will assist with our Humane Chain campaign.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent grad, someone looking to move into the nonprofit sector or those interested in learning more about:

Community Organising, Political Lobbying, Volunteer Management, Campaigning, Nonprofit Management, Animal Welfare, and more.

Specific duties to include:
• Research (political and media)
• Volunteer management
• Supporter activism
• Government engagement
• Administrative tasks

Skills required:
• Excellent communication skills – personable, engaging, does well on the phone, as well as written communications.
• Organised, able to manage time efficiently and work well, both independently and as part of a team.
• A passion for animal welfare
• An interest in politics is helpful

To Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to sharontroy@wspa.org.au by 26 August. This is an unpaid position to commence late August/early September and run through early December.

Thousands of Australians Rally Against Live Animal Exports

2011-08-15T15:31:00.007+10:00

The following blog post was written by Sandie Rawnsley, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports, a WSPA Member Society.

According to some media reports, over 20,000 people took part in rallies organised by RSPCA and Animals Australia, to end live animal export all over Australia this past weekend. Here, Sandie writes about her experience at the rally in Fremantle.

All during Saturday night the rain fell in sheets and at 7.00am on the Esplanade reserve in Fremantle on Sunday, the weather didn’t look any more promising. My trusty team of SLE volunteers battled on regardless and by 11.30am we were ready to go and like a sign from above, the sun came out! And the people came, a trickle at first and then in ever increasing waves, placards held high. It’s hard to gauge crowd numbers at a glance but we estimate that the final turnout was in excess of 1,500!

We started at noon with some great music from Dilip and the Davs followed by passionate and rousing speeches from Lisa Baker MLA, Member for Maylands, Senator Rachel Siewert, Chris Tallentire, MLA Member for Gosnells, Lyn MacLaren MLC Member for the South Metropolitan Region and Lyn Bradshaw, National and State President of the RSPCA. [Animals Australia’s] Lyn White’s speech was also played over the airwaves during which you could have heard a pin drop and there wasn’t a dry eye on the Esplanade reserve.

The spirit of the day was amazing – happy, friendly, supportive and caring. Children planted their wishes in the Wish Garden and coloured in pictures of lambs and cows. Levy the sheep put in an appearance, as did a beautiful calf called Daisy, a goat and dogs of all shapes and sizes. There were babies and pensioners, bankers and teachers – just ordinary Australians from all walks of life coming together to speak out for those that cannot. Standing on the stage in front of the crowd at the end of the event was a humbling and emotional moment for me and just in case I need reminding, its memory will always serve as a reminder of why this work is so important to me.

Thanks to Houndstooth Studio for the photographs.

AUSTRALIANS TO RALLY FOR AN END TO LIVE EXPORT

2011-08-09T12:58:00.003+10:00

The following post was written by Lisa Chalk of RSPCA and provided to WSPA to publish here. RSPCA and Animals Australia are holding a joint "Ban Live Export" rally this coming weekend.

Sunday August 14 will be a day to remember as thousands of caring Australians come together to support legislation to end live animal export.

The brutality in Indonesia was the last straw for the Australian public which is fed up with yet another live export scandal. It was also the last straw for our Federal parliamentarians who have been standing up in droves over the past two months in support of a live export free future for Australia.

On August 18 they will cast their vote on a Bill that if supported will see live exports phased out over the next three years. Importantly, in the interim it would ensure that Australian animals are only sent to facilities that meet Australian standards.

We know that this legislation, if supported, will result in positive changes for our country. A meat only export trade is more lucrative, more stable for producers, would create jobs and of course would be better for animals.

The Gillard Government has an opportunity to be revered for ending one of the cruellest trades in Australia’s history or to be remembered for letting the suffering continue.

To RSVP to an event in your capital city or for more information visit www.BanLiveExport.com/rally

Indonesian vets invite WSPA to help improve cattle welfare

2011-08-01T15:36:00.005+10:00

WSPA staff recently attended a workshop with the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA), who were asked to put forward recommendations to the Indonesian Government on how to improve the handling and slaughter of cattle.

The workshop follows the release of footage filmed by Animals Australia which showed extremely cruel handling and slaughter practices in Indonesian slaughter houses. As most of you know, this expose resulted in the temporary suspension of cattle exports from Australia to Indonesia. And sadly you may also know that the suspension has now been lifted, even though Bill Farmer’s independent live export inquiry hasn’t even been completed and exports are now likely to resume within days, albeit with what’s been claimed as "improved" conditions.

During the workshop, WSPA’s Dr Rasto Kolesar gave an excellent presentation on the principles of humane slaughter, highlighting successful examples of humane slaughter programs that WSPA has previously been involved in. He was supported by his colleagues including our Australian Campaign Manager Jessica Borg at this workshop.

Key themes at the workshop included achieving self-sufficiency of the Indonesian meat supply, ways to improve cattle transport and slaughter within Indonesia, and the economic benefits of proper handling including pre-stunning.

During the trip to Indonesia, WSPA staff also held a series of meetings with Government officials and other key stakeholders, to discuss how we can work together to improve conditions in slaughterhouses. Overall staff were encouraged to see people on the ground with a will to make positive change for animal welfare in Indonesia, a movement which WSPA will help to achieve.

Stay tuned for further developments of WSPA’s work within the region.

Smile and join WSPA’s Global Humane Chain

2011-07-26T13:58:00.004+10:00

Help demonstrate that people around the world want the Australian Government to stop live animal exports

WSPA has launched a worldwide campaign, calling on supporters to tell the Australian Government to end live animal exports for good. By adding your photo to our Global Humane Chain, you can show them that the world is watching and urging them to do the right thing.

After the government’s recent shocking decision to reinstate live exports without completion of its animal welfare inquiry, WSPA Campaign manager Jessica Borg said:

“Enough is enough. It’s time to tell the Australian Government that the world is watching and we will not put up with its excuses any longer. There is simply no such thing as humane live export and for that reason Australian live exports must be stopped.”

We’ve been hearing from our supporters around the world who agree!

So many of you have already taken important actions by writing to your MP and meeting your MP which has created a huge impact. We’ve now created another fun and easy way for supporters to visually demonstrate the international support to end live animal exports.

Add your photo to be part of this global visual petition calling on the Australian Government to end live exports once and for all. Simply stand with your arms outstretched, like in the photo above, to join hands with WSPA supporters from around the world who are opposed to this cruel practice. The photos will be tallied and the most iconic from each country will be presented to the Australian Government at an upcoming press conference.

Farmers, Meatworkers, and Animal Welfare Activists Unite to End Live Export in Lismore

2011-07-15T15:53:00.001+10:00

From June 30 – July 1 WSPA campaigners attended the “End Live Export Sessions” in Lismore, NSW. The two-day event was organised by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, Animal Law and Education Project (ALEP).

WSPA Campaign Manager Jessica Borg spoke regarding animal welfare issues, highlighting that, while the conditions for cattle in Indonesia are horrific, we must not also forget about the live sheep export trade to the Middle East. Other speakers included animal law expert Dr. Malcolm Caulfield, Grant Courtney of the AMIEU, Carmel Cooke from MP Janelle Saffin’s office, and Southern Cross University Animal Law Club (SCUALC) President, Anna Ludvik. Anna had this to say about the events:

“Here on the Northern Rivers we have a diverse community. There are cattle farmers, meatworkers, hippies, academics, professionals, activists and unemployed people. But we are a community notorious for standing up for social justice. It was an amazing experience walking down the streets of Casino and Lismore promoting the event and hearing so many people thanking me for doing what I do and supporting the cause, ‘No I don’t want one of your flyers …oh hang on, it’s about live export, yeah I’ll take one, horrible business that’. I heard farmers thank me for speaking up for the animals, I saw retired meatworkers cry when they talked about what they saw on Four Corners.

“In the end we all agreed that a solution needs to be found to end this cruelty once and for all. I believe our region can help foster and lead a new culture of modern farming and thinking where profits do not preclude compassion.”

The event culminated in a rally with participants marching from the Lismore Workers Club to Janelle Saffin’s office, bearing a petition calling for a phase out of the industry.

WA Labor Party recognises the need to phase out live animal exports

2011-07-13T15:37:00.003+10:00

On the 25th June 2011, the WA Labor Party passed a motion that will have significant long term benefits for Australian jobs in rural and regional areas and for animal welfare.

The motion, proposed by Member for Maylands, Lisa Baker said that there are strong economic, job and animal welfare reasons for transitioning from the live export trade to domestic processing of animals for local consumption and the chilled and frozen meat trade.

Lisa Baker, MP

The WA Labor party also recognised that for live exports to be phased out, that the States will have a major role to play. This will include ensuring adequate transitional arrangements are in place to facilitate the expansion of a chilled and frozen meat trade and to develop and implement an alternative and sustainable economic base for the pastoral industry in the north of Western Australia.

They also resolved

To work with the Commonwealth government, industry and importing countries to promote the trade in chilled meat from animals humanely transported and slaughtered in Australia,

To pursue, as part of trade negotiations, the elimination of policies of foreign governments, such as subsidies and tariffs, which distort competitive neutrality between the meat processing and the live export industries

To promote Australian chilled and frozen meant in potential new markets through intensive international promotional campaigns, such as the emerging markets in China.

This is exciting news and WA is really leading the way on this issue. WSPA Member Society Stop Live Exports was integral in working with Ms Baker to get this motion passed. As WA is the largest exporter of live animals in the country, WSPA Campaigners will continue to work with MP's in this state on the important role they play in ending this trade for good.

Encourage These MPs to take Further Action

2011-07-08T13:15:00.002+10:00

WSPA was very pleased to hear of the Labor MPs who have stepped forward, signing a latter authored by Kelvin Thomson, criticising the government's decision to reinstate live cattle exports to Indonesia without completing its animal welfare inquiry.

If you live in one of the following electorates, please phone or email your MP today to thank them for speaking out against the issue, but also encourage them to take further action.

Fremantle (WA) - Melissa Parke
Corangamite (VIC) - Darren Cheeseman
Chisolm (VIC) - Anna Burke
Makin (SA) - Tony Zappia
Bendigo (VIC) - Steve Gibbons
Hinadmarsh (SA) - Steve Georganas
La Trobe (VIC) - Laura Smyth
Deakin (VIC) - Mike Symon

CATTLE TRADE RE-OPENS TO INDONESIA YET ANIMAL WELFARE NOT ASSURED

2011-07-07T10:10:00.003+10:00

WSPA has already been inundated with emails and calls from supporters outraged by Minister Ludwig’s announcement last night that live cattle exports to Indonesia will resume. This announcement comes without any robust details on how animal welfare will be enforced and assured.

This is a decision that simply defies logic and WSPA holds grave concerns for the animals that will be slaughtered in Indonesia. Whilst permits will only be granted to live exporters that ‘prove’ the animals can be managed through supply chains that meet international standards, these standards don’t require the use of stunning. Animals will continue to have their throats slit whilst fully conscious.

Again the Minister has foolishly made the live export industry responsible for caring for our animals, when over and over it has been proven that they cannot be trusted with animal welfare. WSPA Campaign Manager Jessica Borg is left with little choice but to call this a "political decision", coming after Ludwig faced calls for his resignation earlier this week.

WSPA is extremely disappointed that the Minister chose not to wait for the outcome of the animal welfare inquiry before reopening the trade. The Government is switching from one band aid solution to the next, rather than focusing on the long term. With political will, animals could be killed much more humanely within Australia, and a higher value chilled meat product exported internationally, a solution that benefits both the local Australian processing industry and Australian animals.

Additionally, if it was always the case that the trade would be re-opened with barely any reform, why bother putting the farmers through the uncertainty and financial burden? WSPA sincerely hopes that the farmers who have said they want their animals pre-stunned will hold back their animals and find alternatives to live export.

The Government needs to know that this announcement is unacceptable. WSPA is encouraging supporters to call their local MPs to express their concerns. You can find contact details for your local electorate office here: www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-alpha.asp or call into your local radio station with your views to keep this issue in the media.

In the meantime, WSPA is continuing to meet with MPs and supports the calls from RSPCA and Animals Australia. In addition to lobbying activities, WSPA has been invited by the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association to go to Indonesia next week, to discuss humane slaughter of cattle. Our Campaign Manager Jessica Borg will be attending and we’ll have more news from her in the coming weeks to update you on the progress of this issue.