Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

better than live export hero banner
Priority issue
On 1 July 2024, the Federal Government…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

take action live sheep export alternate
Media release: Live sheep export unfixable, unnecessary, unacceptable – and now, soon to be unlawful
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Choose Wisely

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

RSPCA Approved Standards

AWS2025 Website Image 2000x2000 v2
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2025
Animal ethics and animal welfare…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
Subscribe now! Keep up to date with the latest animal welfare news
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Media centre
  4. Aussie cattle suffering in Indonesia a…

Following new revelations of Australian breeder cattle languishing in terrible conditions in Indonesia, RSPCA Australia has today once again called for urgent action by the Australian Government to address a loophole in live export regulations, that allows the export of animals for breeding and dairy production purposes with no protection in importing countries.

Images released by the ABC today show Australian cattle that were sold to the Indonesian government in 2018 starving and emaciated, as well as rotting carcases showing withered conditions.

“Yet again, we find ourselves facing another example of the live export industry failing Australian animals,” RSPCA Australia Senior Policy Officer, Dr Jed Goodfellow said.

“Today’s story is just the latest in a long series of disasters, with reports as recently as April this year showing Australian dairy cattle suffering in Sri Lanka.

“How many more incidents like these will it take before the government takes decisive action to protect Aussie animals live exported for breeding purposes? How much more international shame will we allow the live export industry to bring upon our farming sector?

“The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council said it expressed concerns about the export deal but nevertheless proceeded to supply Australian cattle knowing of the risks. That’s unconscionable. 

“It seems they’re willing to sacrifice these cattle to this horrendous fate as the cost of doing business.

“We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - there is a loophole in Australia’s live export regulation that you could drive a cattle truck through. 

“The Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (or ESCAS), a system designed by Government to supposedly address the deepening community concern for the welfare of animals sent overseas, does not apply to the tens of thousands of breeding and dairy cattle exported every year.

“The RSPCA has been calling for action to close this gaping loophole since the ESCAS was first introduced in 2011, and yet the system remains unchanged, the Government continues to flounder, and our animals continue to suffer overseas.

“The Minister for Agriculture needs to act to address community concerns and better protect Australian cattle by extending the ESCAS to apply to breeder and dairy cattle.

“The RSPCA also calls upon the Australian Government to release the full report prepared by LiveCorp into this issue. It’s not acceptable to keep the report hidden from the Australian public. 

“Community trust in the live export industry is already severely damaged, 

“And the more incidents like these that are brought to light, the more it confirms the concerns of Australians - that live exporters only care about profits, and don’t care about animal welfare,” Dr Goodfellow said.

Background:

  • In April this year, an ABC investigation revealed horrific images and footage of starving, sick, dead and dying dairy cattle exported by Wellard from Australia to Sri Lanka.

  • A previous ABC investigation in 2012 also revealed horrific conditions for Australian dairy cattle live exported to Qatar, with hundreds dying as result of not being provided with adequate food, water and shelter in the desert conditions. 

  • In 2018, Australia exported 106,634 breeder cattle to overseas destinations. 

 
subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.