Activist steps up live export ban

By Tania Martin
MONBULK animal rights activist Jenny Moxham has called for the Federal Government to end live export, while canvassing support from hills residents.
She has spent the last two weeks collecting more than 165 signatures for an Animals Australia petition calling for the end of live export.
Ms Moxham said more than 175,000 people from across the country had already signed the petition.
But she is calling for hills people to get involved and help collect signatures so that Animals Australia can reach its goal of 200,000 signatures.
Ms Moxham said it was hoped that the petition would put increased pressure on the Australian Government to put an end to this ‘indefensible trade’.
“During the last 30 years Australia has sent more than 150 million sheep and cattle to the Middle East to be slaughtered,” she said.
“Of these, 2.5 million have died en route from starvation, illness, trauma, suffocation, fire or drowning.”
Ms Moxham said investigations have exposed cruelties inflicted upon the animals in the Middle East.
According to Animals Australia most importing countries don’t have laws to protect the animals’ welfare.
It is reported by Animals Australia that once in the Middle East, sheep are routinely purchased, bound and shoved into car boots in regions where temperatures reach more than 50 degrees in summer.
Ms Moxham said both sheep and cattle have their throats cut while fully conscious, suffering prolonged, distressing and painful deaths.
She said the presence of Australian animals in the Middle East sends the appalling message that Australians must approve of these cruelties.
Ms Moxham said she had contacted Casey MP Tony Smith but had not received his support in the call to stop live export.
In response Mr Smith said Australia has the most stringent animal welfare laws in the world when it comes to the live export of animals.
He said that live animal export offers Australian farmers a viable alternative to domestic slaughter and market options that might not otherwise be available.
“If Australia was to withdraw from livestock exports, other countries would simply take our place in the trade,” he said.
“If we were to ban live exports, there would be an increase in exports from other counties where animals welfare is given a much lower priority.”
Meanwhile, Labor candidate for Casey Dympna Beard said she was personally opposed to all forms of animal cruelty and in particular the live export trade.
She said there was no doubt that it would eventually be stopped, but that if she is elected on Saturday, she will do everything she can to put an end to it.
Ms Moxham said hills people wanting to help in the campaign can download a copy of the petition from the Animals Australia website at www.animalsaustralia.org.au and start collecting signatures.