FED:Labor reaffirms support for live exports

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2011
FED:Labor reaffirms support for live exports

SYDNEY Dec 4 AAP - The Labor party has reaffirmed its support for the controversial
live animal export industry but has rejected calls to make stunning compulsory.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig spoke out in support of the industry at the ALP national
conference on Sunday, moving a motion that Labor recognise the importance of the industry
to jobs in northern Australia.

The motion acknowledged the need for supply chain assurance and expanding the use of
stunning techniques.

The federal government suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia earlier this year
after a public backlash following ABC's Four Corners program in June exposing mistreatment
of the animals.

The minister said Australia should not have to choose between live exporting or the
domestic frozen meat processing industry.

"The once in a generational reforms Labor has put in place has put animal welfare at
the heart of this trade," Mr Ludwig said, adding he didn't want to see the live export
industry torpedoed.

Labor Left faction member Melissa Parke moved a separate motion calling for mandatory
stunning to be a minimum requirement for international animal live exports.

"If we are going to send animals on long journeys across overseas the least we can
do is accord them with the mercy of stunning before slaughter," she said.

There is reluctance to use stunning in Indonesia because it goes against Islamic slaughtering
customs.

Labor MP Mike Kelly dismissed the animal welfare concerns.

"It's time to move on from this issue, we've spent a lot of time on it," he said adding
that Mr Ludwig had addressed the problem.

"It's time for us to move on to more important issues like the situation of our fellow
human beings in East Africa in Syria, Libya, Egypt, North Korea and Iran that's the stuff
we should be talking about," he said.

Labor voted in favour of the minister's motion but rejected Ms Parkes' call for stunning
to be mandatory.

AAP lapin/jjs/jel/was

KEYWORD: LABOR CATTLE

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