[Greens-Media] MS: Lynn MacLaren - Port Action Stops Exporters

[Guthrie, Shane]

Media Statement: Port Action Stops Exporters
19 October 2012

Alarming photos posted online early this morning of carcasses and sheep with protruding bellies as the Bader 3 was loading in Fremantle have led to activists stopping the loading. Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren was present at Berth 1 this morning when members of the organisation Animal Rescue Team locked onto two sheep trucks.

"As one activist was removed from the ship, two more activists locked onto the under carriage of two trucks - one entering, one leaving the gates at Berth 1," said Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare. 

"At that time, there were several police on site, though I did not see an RSPCA inspector, after contacting them early in the morning.

"The Greens WA would like to see a halt to live exports, which is proven to cause suffering for millions of animals. If the regulations can be so openly flouted, confidence in the new ESCAS system has bottomed out to an all-time low.

"Why is it that the public have to jump on ships to expose these horrors when the Government continues to claim we supposedly have the best system of regulations in the world?" questioned Ms MacLaren.

"The two activists who have locked-on to the sheep trucks are calling for the sheep to be returned to the feedlot - they don't want them to go on-board, in light of the damning evidence provided this morning. Colleagues of theirs had photographed two sheep dead on the dock," said Ms MacLaren. 

"This comes at the same time Wellard negotiated an agreement with the Federal Quarantine Department of Pakistan to process the remaining 11,500 sheep previously redirected from Bahrain to Pakistan amid evidence of extensive morbidity. 

"The live export industry has learnt nothing from the scandal of the Ocean Drover. There are clearly concerns over the sheep in port now in Fremantle. 

"The fate of sheep in Pakistan has taken months to resolve, from their refusal by authorities in Bahrain, the delays in finding a new export destination, the inhumane slaughter of half of them in Pakistan, to today's agreement to slaughter the rest in Pakistan. 

"Are the sheep being loaded today going to be accepted at their destination?" questioned Ms MacLaren. "There is no certainty in the system, anymore."


For comment: 
Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC 
Mobile 0403 721 951

For information: 
Shane Guthrie, Media Liaison Officer 
Mobile 0428 207 007


Shane Guthrie 
Electorate and Research Officer 
Office of Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia
Unit 7, 142 South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel +61 8 9430 7233   Fax +61 8 9430 7207
Shane.Guthrie at mp.wa.gov.au   www.LynnMacLaren.org.au