7 July 2011
RSPCA Australia and Animals Australia said it’s unconscionable that cattle will return to Indonesia with no guarantee that they won’t be slaughtered while fully conscious.
“The Minister’s announcement doesn’t protect animals from a cruel death. They could still suffer the pain and distress of throat cutting while fully conscious and that’s not only unacceptable to the RSPCA but it’s going to be unacceptable to the Australian community,” said RSPCA Australia CEO Heather Neil.
“Cattle will be allowed to go back to facilities where these agreed ‘new’ conditions still don’t require upright restraint, pre-slaughter stunning nor do they prohibit traditional roping slaughter where animals are forcibly tripped onto their side for the throat cut.
“If the government is serious about animal welfare then before any export permits are issued, and a single animal is put on a boat, stunning must be guaranteed. What is the point in supply chain assurances that actually don’t assure a humane death for animals,” said Ms Neil.
Animals Australia cruelty investigator Lyn White said it is both astonishing and unacceptable that the Gillard Government has reopened the trade without Australian government officials assessing the abattoirs in Indonesia.
“Once again we are relying on the live export industry for information and assurances that animals are being treated properly.
“20 years of misplaced trust in this industry is what got us into this mess in the first place and what led to the brutal deaths of over 6 million cattle in Indonesia, said Ms White.
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