Published 01/06/2011

The Australian government has suspended the live export of cattle to 11 abattoirs in Indonesia, following a TV documentary showing animals being brutally treated before slaughter.

The lobby group, Animals Australia, first uncovered this cruel treatment in March this year. The gruesome footage shows extensive cruelty to Australian cattle. Shockingly, one of the featured abattoirs was inspected a month before this footage was filmed, and had been approved by the Australian inspectors. This proves that in spite of assurances from the Australian government, there is no way of ensuring that animals are treated humanely, once exported.

Compassion in World Farming calls for all long distance transport of animals to be ended. The long journeys cause unnecessary stress to the animals and once they arrive at their destination, they can be treated brutally, being kicked, thrashed and beaten and then left to die slow and painful deaths.

Our Director of Public Affairs, Joyce D'Silva, says:

"According to Australian press reports, half a million cattle are transported to Indonesia every year, for slaughter. Watching this footage proves why it is imperative that we end all long distance transport of animals. Not only do the journeys themselves frequently involve enormous suffering. Time and again it has proved impossible to guarantee humane handling and slaughter of these animals on arrival at their destination. Please help us to ban all live exports from Australia by writing to the Australian Prime Minister."

The Australian Agriculture Minister will be appointing an independent reviewer to investigate the complete supply chain for live exports While Australian exports to these 11 Indonesian abattoirs has been suspended, cattle continue to be exported to other abattoirs from Australia. Merely suspending live export to 11 of the abattoirs is an inadequate response to this horrific situation.

Take action

Contact the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and ask her to ban live exports via www.banliveexport.com OR to her official contact page: www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm, AND/OR to her address: 

The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra Act 2600
Australia

Watch the documentary

Click here to watch the ABC documentary. Please note that some of this footage may upset viewers due to its graphic nature.