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
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
The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) had a fantastic turnout at this year’s Labour Day March in Brisbane, with members donning the iconic black t-shirts and marching with slogans and signs in support for an end to the live export trade. AMIEU members say “NO!” to live export at this year’s Labour Day March – photo courtesy of AMIEU “Live exports: butchering Australian jobs and country towns,” reads a placard held by an AMIEU worker dressed as a cow … Continued
http://www.youtube.com/get_player I recently returned from a trip up to Townsville and Dinmore in Queensland where I interviewed meat workers (seen in the video above) who are now either unemployed or have had their shifts cut right back due to the live export trade. With so much livestock being exported offshore local abattoirs are struggling to keep their doors open and unemployed meat workers are now trying to survive on government handouts and donations. In Townsville I watched as truck after … Continued
According to the ABC today, more than 200 meat industry workers in Queensland’s Darling Downs have had their jobs suspended and another 300 have lost their jobs in Young in New South Wales. The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union’s Brian Crawford highlighted the role that live exports are playing in Australian job losses like these: “The live export trade is growing at an alarming rate – it just keeps getting bigger and bigger – and as a consequence, processors are … Continued
Reports in several media, including The Australian, over the last few days have confirmed that the live export industry is having a negative impact on the Australian sheep meat industry. Two of Australia’s biggest sheep meat exporters – one in New South Wales and one in South Australia – have been forced to cut production, citing pressure from the increased demand for live exports as one of the main reasons. Surging demand for Australian lamb has driven up its price … Continued
This morning in the Northern Star: GRANT SCHERF, 26, and his partner Brooke McDermott, 23, of Casino, have shelved their plans to start saving a deposit for their first home. Every day Mr Scherf calls the Cassino Northern Co-operative Meat Company at Casino at 10am to find out if he will be working the next day. And every day for the last two weeks it has been the same story. There is no work. Yesterday, Mr Scherf, who has worked … Continued
