Joe Ludwig

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Minister flies out to shore up new live export rules

As reported in today’s article from Sydney Morning Herald, Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, is traveling this week to the Middle East to discuss animal welfare standards with regards to live exports. The trip comes following the Minister’s imposed deadline of 1 March to enact new animal welfare guidelines and “supply chain assurances.” Live export companies have been crying out against these new guidelines, predicting that the new framework will result in decreased shipments for 2012. A recent article in … Continued

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Year-End Live Animal Export Wrap-Up: Part 2

In Part One of our Year End Wrap-Up we looked at some of the live export milestones in the first half of 2011. The year’s turning point was easily defined by the atrocities uncovered by Animals Australia and televisions program Four Corners in Indonesia, which made live export an issue no one could ignore. WSPA supporters sent thousands of letters to their MPs and to Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig in the days following the Four Corners report, and then followed … Continued

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Ethics and Economics Thrown Overboard in Labor Response to Live Export Review

It’s “band-aid as usual” stated World Society for the Protection of Animals campaigns manager Jessica Borg, in response to Senator Joe Ludwig’s press conference on proposed live export reform. A revised industry framework outlined by the Gillard Government still makes exporters ultimately responsible for animal welfare. Yet it has been proven time and again that they have not been able to achieve this. These recommendations do not adequately address the problems that horrified the Australian public in a recent Four … Continued

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CATTLE TRADE RE-OPENS TO INDONESIA YET ANIMAL WELFARE NOT ASSURED

WSPA has already been inundated with emails and calls from supporters outraged by Minister Ludwig’s announcement last night that live cattle exports to Indonesia will resume. This announcement comes without any robust details on how animal welfare will be enforced and assured. This is a decision that simply defies logic and WSPA holds grave concerns for the animals that will be slaughtered in Indonesia. Whilst permits will only be granted to live exporters that ‘prove’ the animals can be managed … 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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Minister Ludwig announces suspension of trade to certain facilities following Animals Australia investigation aired on Four Corners

Following the exposure of horrific footage bravely captured by Animals Australia on last night’s ABC Four Corners report, showing cruel treatment of Australian cattle within Indonesian slaughter houses, welfare groups and the meat processing industry are calling for an immediate halt to live cattle export to Indonesia. Jessica Borg, campaigns manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) said: “As an international animal welfare campaigner I’ve witnessed some truly distressing scenes in my time, but even I … Continued

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Setting the Record Straight on Live Exports

Since the Fremantle Live Export Forum held last month, we’ve seen a flurry of news articles published about the trade. Not unexpectedly, we’re beginning to hear from exporters and some politicians who are attempting to defend the cruel industry. However the arguments purport the same myths that have been used for years as excuses for not putting a stop to the trade that almost 80% of Australians are against. We feel it’s time to start addressing some of these myths. … Continued