Perth-based cattle exporter International Livestock Exports has suspended shipments to an Indonesian abattoir after disturbing footage emerged this week of slaughter practices there, triggering an investigation by Australian authorities that could cost the company its export licence, according to a repor carried on StockandLand’s website.
ILE director Michael Stanton told The Australian Financial Review his company, which has exported about 50,000 head of cattle to Indonesia since the live trade resumed in August, had also sent an investigator to the Jakarta facility.
“I can’t believe this sort of thing can happen again after all the work we have done to get a good supply chain working,” Stanton said.
ILE’s suspension prompted renewed calls from the Australian Greens to ban all live exports and for the Federal government to follow the live export company’s lead by suspending all trade to facilities featured in the AA footage, which aired on ABC TV’s Lateline program on Tuesday night.
Greens live exports spokesperson, NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon, told media today that by banning cattle exports to one of its Indonesian abattoirs, ILE had “leapfrogged” over Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig “who is still dragging the chain in taking any reasonable action here”.
“The Greens will continue to push for a ban on live exports,” she said.
“We are also advocating that we need a Minister dedicated to animal welfare.
“And what the Minister (Ludwig) needs to do immediately is himself ban any exports of livestock from Australia to either of the abattoirs that have been featured in the latest alarming videos that we’ve seen.”
Meanwhile, new measures for Australian exporters of live animal has landed on schedule and will apply to the first tranche of Australian live export markets from today.
Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the new system’s implementation in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Turkey, in addition to Indonesia, means the government’s reforms will apply to 75 percent of Australia’s live export trade.
The system’s implementation in these markets aligns with the strict timelines set by the Federal government’s response to the Farmer Review and by the Industry-Government Working Group.
Starting March 1, it will be a condition of all export permits that consignments to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey and Indonesia will be traced from start to finish, ensuring that animals are treated at or better than internationally agreed welfare standards and that those supply chains be independently audited.
