Andrew Wilkie joined Lisa Margetts from Stand Against Live Animal Export and Paige Mulholland from Change.org to discuss a petition signed by over 470,000 people calling for a ban on all live animal exports.
“I’ve long advocated for ending live exports, and welcomed the Government’s commitment to end live sheep exports. But this doesn’t stop the cruelty inflicted on other animals.
“Last year alone Australia exported over 800,000 cattle, 33,000 goats and 1,700 buffalo. Cattle numbers increased 11 per cent, and goat exports more than doubled.
“We don’t have to look far for evidence of this ongoing toll. In 2024, a Brahman Express voyage killed 151 cattle, a mortality rate of 4.53 per cent. These animals suffered and died over days at sea, in a trade that puts profit ahead of animal welfare. Two years on the incident remains under investigation, but the exporter still trades.
“I thank Lisa for her tireless advocacy on this issue over many years, and for bringing this petition to the Parliament today on behalf of the hundreds of thousands who agree that it’s well beyond time we end all live animal exports. I’d also like to thank Change.org for facilitating the delivery of this petition.”