AMIEU

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Cruelty at Hawkesbury Abattoir

We’ve recently received a number of questions from supporters regarding the footage from the Hawkesbury abattoir in NSW that was recently exposed by Animal Liberation NSW: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/cruelty-video-rogue-abattoir-checked-four-times-in-a-year-20120210-1saat.html (Warning: article contains a video featuring graphic content) WSPA believes that the cruelty seen at the Hawkesbury abattoir was abhorrent. The brutality that was displayed is neither legal nor acceptable here in Australia. In Australia there are laws protecting animals, which is why WSPA believes that animals should be processed in this country. … Continued

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AUSTRALIA, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM!

By now, we all know about the damage the inherently cruel live export trade has done to our reputation as an ethical nation, but we must also consider that our jobs and the Australian economy are suffering too. There is overwhelming community support on this issue with people across Australia asking “WHAT CAN I DO?” and “WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?” Recently, WSPA and Grant Courtney, Federal president of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) joined forces on a video … Continued

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WSPA presents at Senate Inquiry into Live Exports

On the 10th August I gave a presentation to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural Affairs and Transport at their inquiry into animal welfare standards in the live export industry. In my opening statements I outlined the inherent cruelty in the industry, how we cannot trust the live export industry to care for our animals and how investing in local processing and jobs would provide a more stable base for farmers and our economy. Of course there were opinions on … Continued

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Farmers, Meatworkers, and Animal Welfare Activists Unite to End Live Export in Lismore

From June 30 – July 1 WSPA campaigners attended the “End Live Export Sessions” in Lismore, NSW. The two-day event was organised by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, Animal Law and Education Project (ALEP). WSPA Campaign Manager Jessica Borg spoke regarding animal welfare issues, highlighting that, while the conditions for cattle in Indonesia are horrific, we must not also forget about the live sheep export trade to the Middle East. Other speakers included animal law expert Dr. Malcolm Caulfield, … Continued

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PM’s suspension of live cattle export not enough says Meat Workers Union and WSPA

Following an onslaught of public pressure from across the nation, and the efforts of both Animals Australia and the RSPCA, after just over a week, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has broken her silence and announced a suspension of all live cattle exports to Indonesia. While this news is encouraging and certainly a step in the right direction, we stand firm that this is not enough. In a press conference this morning, Minister for Agriculture, Senator Joe Ludwig stated that a … Continued

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Janelle Saffin Raises Parliament Debate on Live Exports

Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin is introducing a Private Members Motion to Federal Parliament today, March 21 at 11.50am, debating a potential shift away from live animal exports towards the more humane and economically beneficial alternative of an expanded frozen and chilled meat export industry. Federal MP Janelle Saffin In addition to addressing concerns about the welfare of animals involved in the live export trade, Ms Saffin’s motion covers issues of concern to the meat processing industry and the … Continued

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Highlights from the Live Export Forum in Fremantle

On 12 October, 2010 WSPA joined representatives from across the political, meat processing industry and animal welfare spectrum at a press and public event, held in the major live sheep export town of Fremantle in WA, to call for an end to live sheep exports. A Press Conference was held for the media and an evening public forum was opened up to citizens concerned about the trade. The morning’s press conference held outside Fremantle Town Hall, which was wrapped in … Continued

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Live Export Funding Announcement an Insult to Rural Workers

Yesterday’s funding announcement, by Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, to improve animal welfare for animals caught up in the live export trade across both the Middle East and South-East Asia has been dismissed by Australian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) as ‘absolute garbage’, and the Australian meat processing industry representatives as ‘spin’ and ‘bluff’. Paul Crane, general manager of WA based meat processor V&V Walsh said, “I’m shocked and disappointed that the Government’s response to concerns about the live export trade … Continued

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Live Export Exports Jobs

The AMIEU recently launched their campaign “Live Export Exports Jobs” through a press conference in Townsville. The campaign seems to have really resonated with Australians, as the story has been picked up by over 50 different media outlets, including 5 television stations around the country. Below you can see video footage of guest speakers at the press conference, as well as the news stories that ran on TV, covering the campaign. A number of articles appeared in local newspapers as … Continued

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Jobs lost due to live export: “just plain dumb” says local MP

“Live export exports jobs” echoed through Townsville on Tuesday as local meat workers, Union representatives and politicians launched a public campaign to phase out live export by 2015. Labor candidate for Herbert Tony Mooney expressed his concern about job losses at the launch of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union’s (AMIEU) “live export exports jobs” campaign in Townsville this week.This year alone, 960 full-time Australian meat workers’ jobs have been lost nation-wide. In response to the large number of jobs … Continued