Commenting on tonight's ABC report that shows exported Australian cattle sledgehammered to death, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"The ABC report of the most horrific treatment of live export cattle is sickening, heart breaking and beyond belief.

"Prime Minister Turnbull must respond to Animal Australia's call for urgent intervention to stop this horror.

Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon has said fresh evidence of live export abuse aired on 7.30 is further proof that the Australian government's regulations are doing very little to end the enormous suffering of animals overseas.

"The unwillingness of the Australian government to administer criminal charges against offending export companies means we have seen yet another expose of animal cruelty on TV," said Senator Rhiannon.

Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said that Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has mislead farmers and the public when he expressed surprise saying he was "disappointed" over the Indonesian government's plan to cut cattle imports from Australia.

"How could Minister Joyce be surprised and disappointed when news of the Indonesian decision has been on the public record for many years," Senator Rhiannon said.

Commenting on a story on Lateline last night about cruelty to Australian animals in the Middle East, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

 “Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), the reported exporter of Australian animals that have suffered horrific abuse in Gaza, should have its export licence suspended until all investigations against it are completed.

Greens spokesperson on animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon commenting on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce's plan to expand Australia's live export trade into Iran said:

"Minister Barnaby Joyce is looking after a few wealthy pastoralists ahead of jobs growth in regional Australia.

"Expanding the live export trade into Iran is not about assisting farmers and rural communities.

"Minister Joyce is putting his sectional interests before the economic health of regional and rural Australia.

Lee successfully moves for the Agriculture Minister to table all documents related to Livestock Shipping Services (LSS).

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:43): I move:

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (12:07): I move:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the export Control Act 1982 to prohibit the export of live animals for slaughter, and for related purposes.

Question agreed to.

The federal government’s decision to restart the live export trade to Egypt will shock Australians and will cause suffering to exported animals Green animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said today.

Next week the Greens will reintroduce their bill in the Senate to legislate against live exports. 

Senator Rhiannon said: “Australians have not forgotten the horrific footage last year of cruelty inflicted upon cattle in Egypt that resulted in a halt to the export trade with that country.

16 January 2014
MEDIA RELEASE

Greens slam 4000 sheep deaths on ‘horror voyage’ and call for an end to live exports

The Greens have again called for an end to live exports after a report that 4,000 sheep died in half an hour last August on a ‘horror voyage’. 

It is believed the 4,000 sheep from West Australia died due to heat stress on a Livestock Shipping Services shipment to Qatar and the UAE.