The severe cruelty to live sheep and cattle exported from Australia has shocked the nation and is still a major political issue in the country. It's an issue that could contribute towards the current government's downfall. People's feelings are strong and lobbying is still intense despite the government's failure to stop live animal exporting.
Australia is the world's largest exporter of live animals. It shipped 2.9 million sheep valued at A$343.5 million to Middle East markets in 2010/11.
Over the past 30 years Australia has sent more than 150 million sheep and 13 million cattle to be slaughtered alive in the Middle East and Asia.
More than 2.5 million animals have died traveling on ships - but this is accepted simply as a business loss by money hungry farmers.
When they arrive at their destinations the animals are routinely exposed to brutality that would be illegal in Australia - but money hungry Australian farmers generally disregard this. Filmed exposure of such animal brutality in Indonesia and Egypt recently shocked and shamed Australians enormously. Petitioning and mass demonstrations against live animal were staged all over the country.
Most importing countries have no animal welfare laws. Sheep and cattle have their throats cut while fully conscious and suffer fear, pain and stress - but involved Australian cattle and sheep farmers don't seem to care.
The live export industry says live animals are required for religious reasons or because of a lack of refrigeration in importing countries. This is invalid, yet farmers support it.
The farmers willingness to export live anÃmals to these countries gives a general impression that Australia supports such cruelty - and it does not. It's been recently estimated that 80 per cent of the Australia public want live animal export stopped. After massive and intense lobbying the Australian Government failed to act despite the opinion of the electoral majority and evidence that exporting frozen killed meat is much more profitable for farmers.
In addition economic reports show that 5000 new jobs would be created in the meat processing industry in Queensland and Western Australia if live exporting were phased out. But the government has not acted.
Live animal export is still a very hot issue in Australia and Federal and State Governments will need to more seriously consider animal welfare if they are to last. Animal welfare will certainly be an important issue at all coming elections.
The current minority government exists mainly because of support from the Greens and some Independents. It is not a popular government. It could however increase its popularity by acting to stop the mass animal cruelty by banning live animal exports from Australia.
If Australia did ban these live animal exports it would set a stunning example to the world that Australia does not support gross animal cruelty. Hopefully other countries might revise their own attitudes towards animal cruelty. It might also encourage countries like those in the Middle East to review their requirements regarding the eating of dead flesh.
