Media Release
26 November 2009
Australians say no to live export
as the Festival of Sacrifice commences in the Middle East
The largest single petition ever lodged with the Rudd Government's Petitions Committee
includes the signatures of over 34,000 Australians opposed to live animal exports to the
Middle East. The huge box of petitions arrived this week – just as Australian sheep and
cattle are being bought to cruelly handled and slaughtered for the Eid Al Adha 'Festival of
Sacrifice' in importing countries in the Middle East.
Previously more than 225,000 signatures have been tabled in the Senate over several years.
Today's tally of 34,068 to the new House of Representatives Petitions Committee and 208 to
the Senate (tabled by Senator Siewert), brings the cumulative tally to over 259,000
Australians' signatures in opposition to the cruel export of animals to the Middle East
Animals Australia Executive Director Glenys Oogjes said today,
"Animals Australia chose this week to present further petitions because tragically Australian
sheep and cattle are currently being yarded in the Middle East to be sold and killed during
the Eid al Adha.. This three day 'Festival of Sacrifice' represents the peak time for animal
suffering in the Middle East.
"Our investigators have during past Eid 'slaughterfests' documented traumatised Australian
sheep being dragged by their horns and fleece, tied up, thrown onto trucks or shoved into
car boots before being 'sacrificed' by having their throats cut whilst fully conscious. Despite
this clear evidence of cruelty, the Australian Government allows the supply of many
hundreds of thousands of sheep specifically for this festival each year.
"Despite strong community opposition, the live export of animals to the Middle East
continues. Each year some 30,000 to 40,000 sheep sicken and die on the ships during the
journey. That Australia continues to value the profits of a small number of live exporters
over our international reputation as a caring society is a national disgrace", concluded Ms
Oogjes.
Further comment:
Glenys Oogjes, Executive Director, Animals Australia
–
041 431 2552
Animals Australia Inc. 37 O’Connell Street, North Melbourne Ph. 03 9329 6333
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