Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, will this morning introduce another Private Members Bill to shut down the live export trade. This is the fifth time Mr Wilkie has attempted to introduce the Live Animal Export Prohibition (Ending Cruelty) Act, which prohibits the export of live animals for slaughter from 1 July 2023 and in the interim puts in place additional animal welfare safeguards.
“Live animal export is systemically cruel, not in Australia’s economic self-interest and lacks public support,” Mr Wilkie said. “No wonder so many Australians want to see this vile trade shut down.
“For the whole of the ten years I’ve been in the Parliament my office has been inundated with communications from tens of thousands of people concerned about the live export trade. I’ve heard loud and clear that the community wants a complete ban on this vile industry.
“The bill today does exactly that, by winding down the live export trade in Australia with a permanent ban in place from 1 July 2023. In the interim the bill imposes additional animal welfare safeguards on exporters to ensure that Australian livestock is treated humanely until the ban takes place.
“This is the fifth time I have tabled this bill and it has never gained the support of the Government or the Opposition. The Federal Government continues to sanction animal cruelty for its mates in the live-export industry, for example granting exemptions to its ban on sailing into the northern hemisphere summer, the deadliest time of year for live exports.
“Australians simply don’t support this cruel industry. It’s high time both sides of the Parliament took notice, started representing their constituents and supported this bill to ban live export.”