Tapping foreign aid to boost animal welfare makes sense
5th August, 2011
LEADER of The Nationals Warren Truss has thrown his weight behind a proactive bid by the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) to enshrine high quality animal welfare practices in Australia’s live export markets.ALEC’s proposal would see a modest $15 million provided under Australia’s multi-billion dollar foreign aid budget to dramatically upgrade abattoir facilities, practices and education among our live trade partners.
The idea was floated at a Senate Committee hearing into live exports in Darwin yesterday, whereby the ‘capacity building’ provisions of our foreign aid contribution could be used to raise animal handling standards in our live export markets.
“The proposal has the potential to deliver a win-win situation,” Mr Truss said today. “Clearly, Australians have a heightened interest in upgrading facilities in Indonesia and other countries where we export livestock.
“Over the last two months Australians have also gained appreciation of the importance of our live export trade to the livelihoods and wellbeing of people, communities and industries across northern Australia.
“This investment could be a lifeline to rebuild confidence in our $1 billion-a-year live export trade, while, at the same time, representing an unprecedented push to revolutionise animal welfare standards in our export markets.”
Under the proposal, the industry would also contribute $5 million to the animal welfare improvement initiative.
Mr Truss dismissed newly-sworn in Greens’ Senator Lee Rhiannon’s absurd statement that ‘ending live exports is the only real way to stop the horrific treatment of Australian cattle in overseas abattoirs’.
“Senator Rhiannon’s naive argument undermines the serious goal of improving animal welfare standards overseas,” he said. “Australia is already the world’s leader in animal husbandry and care, so taking that knowledge across the globe is a worthwhile objective.
“Surely what is unacceptable for Australian-bred animals is also unacceptable for other cattle. We should use our knowledge and influence as a major supplier to insist on animal welfare reform.
“Banning the trade undermines the very means of affecting attitudinal or behavioural change. By abandoning our place in the market we would also abandon our authority to demand better animal treatment. Neither is in Australia’s interests or the interests of sound animal welfare reforms.
“Clearly, more needs to be done and here is a proposal that makes sense.”
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