[Greens-Media] Greens: SA Must Act to Ban Live Export

[Franks, Office]

Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC has reiterated her call for the State Government to take action to ensure South Australian animals are banned from being exported alive for slaughter overseas.
"The Greens have urged the Weatherill Government to take action to ensure South Australian animals are banned from any future involvement in the live export trade and not subject to the brutal treatment exposed in Pakistan and highlighted on last night's Four Corner's program 'Another Bloody Business'," Ms Franks said.
"Just last week in question time the Minister for Agriculture the Hon Gail Gago spruiked the government's commitment to high animal welfare standards in relation to live exports. The latest expose from Walkley-award winning journalist Sarah Ferguson that  screened on ABC TV's Four Corners program last night however highlighted  the fact that once Australian animals leave our shores we are effectively washing our hands of their wellbeing and welfare.
"The month-long journeys often see hundreds of animals die from inanition (failure to eat), and upon arrival at their destination horrific examples of cruelty are unfortunately commonplace.
"Australians increasingly recognise the live export of livestock is inherently cruel - with the latest revelations concerning the fate of 21,000 Australian sheep stranded in Pakistan sickening even those familiar with the trade. 'New regulatory frameworks' for Australian exporters are unfortunately unlikely to significantly improve animals welfare standards overseas.
"The Greens have previously moved to stop all live exports from South Australia of sheep and any other animal for slaughter overseas.
"A ban on live export would not only enhance animal welfare, but would benefit the South Australian economy in general, provided we assist local farmers and meat processing facilities to restructure their operations and facilities to expand local slaughter operations and increase the marketing of chilled and frozen products - already a much larger sector than live exports.
 "Banning live exports will actually benefit the economy in general and boost jobs with economic analysis showing a 20% increase in benefit to the Australian economy when animals are processed locally. By contrast live exports could actually cost the Australian economy as much as $1.5 billion in lost GDP and around $270 million in household income," Ms Franks concluded.


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