International anger at Rudd Government's cruel live trade pact with Egypt
14 May 08
The world's leading animal protection groups have united in the condemnation of the Australian Government's plans to resume the live trade of cattle to Egypt.
"The government has ignored the cruel reality of the live export industry for the sake of commercial gain, despite all of Mr Rudd's claims in the past that he is will not tolerate animal cruelty," said Major-General Peter Davies, Director General of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). WSPA is leading the Handle with Care coalition - an international alliance of animal welfare groups calling for an end to the long distance transport of animals for slaughter.
"There is now outrage across the world that the Rudd Government has decided to support the expansion of a Middle East trade already condemning millions of animals a year to an arduous sea journey and inhumane handling and slaughter," Major-General Davies said. "The government has refused to meet with the Handle with Care coalition to learn what really happens to animals sent to the Middle East, and this appalling decision is the result."
Public pressure forced the Howard Government to suspend the live cattle trade to Egypt in 2006 after revelations of shocking treatment of cattle in that country. Vision showed cattle being pushed off trucks and stabbed in the eyes and tendons. Animals can also suffer enormously on the sea voyage to the Middle East, which results in tens of thousands of deaths of every year.
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has claimed a new abattoir in Egypt meets international animal welfare standards and that Australian cattle will now be killed in accordance with 'worlds best practice'. However, this allows fully conscious cattle to be first be inverted, and then to have their throat cut whilst fully conscious and without pre-stunning. Such practices are well below what is expected for the treatment of livestock in Australia.
"What this means is Mr Rudd and his Minister are agreeing to send thousands of Australian cattle on an exhausting journey to Egypt to suffer the terror of being slaughtered while fully conscious," Major-General Davies said. "The Australian public has expressed that they do not want their country participating in such extreme animal cruelty for the sake of profits. It is time Mr Rudd listens to the will of the people on this issue and makes a stand for his nation's animals."
The Handle with Care coalition is calling on the Rudd Government to end live exports and to expand the existing meat trade to the Middle East.
For more information please visit www.handlewithcare.tv/au.