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August 18th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Turkey cited in new animal cruelty footage that poses more questions about live export trade
- Milanda Rout
- From: The Australian
- August 18, 2011 6:40P
A screen shot of footage allegedly showing sheep being mistreated in abattoirs in Turkey. Source: Supplied
SHOCKING new footage depicting cattle and sheep being mistreated in abattoirs in Turkey has reignited the live export debate.
The images, captured by Animals Australia, show fully conscious cattle being hoisted above the ground by their hind legs and flailing as their throats are cut, in violation of international animal welfare standards.
Animals Australia released the footage today with independent MP Andrew Wilkie, Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent senator Nick Xenophon.
“In Turkish abattoirs conscious sheep and cattle are routinely shackled by a rear leg and hoisted into the air for the throat cut,” Animals Australian cruelty investigator Lyn White said.
“This is a clear breach of OIE/International guidelines which the Australian Department of Agriculture has long preached as being the base level that had to be met for importing countries.”
The footage was taken in the last few weeks at two Turkish abattoirs.
Ms White said she was unable to confirm the animals in the footage were Australian, but the practices were routine and the facilities received Australian cattle and sheep.
She said more than 500,000 Australian animals had been exported to Turkey in the last 18 months.
Previous Animals Australia footage showing mistreatment of Australian cattle in Indonesia shut down live exports to that country for a month, costing the industry millions.
Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, who was accused of failing to act quickly enough on the Indonesian cruelty claims, was handed the new footage last week.
He said it had been referred to an independent review of Australia’s live export trade by former senior public servant Bill Farmer.
“The government is committed to reforming our live export system,” he said.
“The Australian government has been actively engaged with our trading partners about this reform process.
“Any footage supplied to the government will be considered as part of the development of this framework.”
He noted that Animals Australia was unable to determine whether the animals in the footage were from Australia.
The footage emerged after two separate bids to end live animal exports failed today to win the support in parliament of a single government or opposition MP.
The first, a private bill by Mr Wilkie, aimed to phase out the trade by 2014.
The second bill, initiated by Mr Bandt, sought an immediate ban.
Nationals Leader Warren Truss said Australia must use its influence to encourage best practice in overseas abattoirs.
“The reality is progress has been made but there’s still much more needs to happen,” he said.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said he did not want to see the government make another “erratic decision” on live exports, putting at risk Australia’s relations with its trading partners.
“You don’t deal with your neighbours by tying a note to a brick and throwing it through their front window,” Senator Joyce told reporters in Canberra.
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