2023-06-27
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, has responded to allegations that thousands of sheep are set to be slaughtered in breach of Australian live export rules in Oman.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The allegations of sheep ending up outside approved supply lines show that the Government must urgently legislate an end to the live sheep export trade, which is notorious for its failures to follow the rules.
“Polling consistently shows that Australians want to see an end to the cruel live sheep export trade. The industry lost its social licence a long time ago.
“The Department of Agriculture has consistently failed to regulate the live export trade and simply cannot be trusted to put animal welfare first.
“The Department of Agriculture is hopelessly conflicted. The welfare of animals will never be adequately prioritised because the Department also exists to promote and protect the industry. We need an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.
“The live export trade cannot be made safe for any animal. It is a business model built on cruelty and is simply incompatible with animal welfare.”