The Australian Democrats will today table a petition of 66,500 signatures in Federal Parliament calling for an end to the live animal export trade.
The petition will be the largest number of signatures tabled in the Federal Parliament this year on a single issue, and follows almost 23,000 signatures on petitions tabled by the Democrats earlier this year against the live export of sheep for overseas slaughter.
Democrats’ Leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett, said coverage of the controversial issue of live animal exports had sparked an enormous public reaction.
“People have reacted with horror and outrage at the inhumane treatment and terrible suffering of animals shipped overseas for slaughter,” Senator Bartlett said.
“The suffering and death of thousands of sheep aboard the Cormo Express that was stranded for months in extreme conditions in the Persian Gulf earlier this year, was just one disaster among many in a continuing trade.
“But animal welfare is just one reason this trade should be shut down.
“The live export trade contributes to Australian abattoir closures, while shipping Australian livestock overseas for processing adds to the worsening economic and employment conditions in rural Australia.”
Senator Bartlett said the petition called for an end to the live export trade in favour of boosting Australia’s chilled and frozen halal and kosher carcass trade, where humane slaughtering practices could be ensured.
The petition also called for a Senate Inquiry into the live export trade.
