Pros And Cons Of Live Export

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AUSTRALIA SHOULD BAN LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS

INTRODUCTION
Year after year, Australians have been shocked by the images of the live export trade. However, despite this, the cruelty continues. Australia continues to export millions of livestock from our shores every year, condemning them to a painful and prolonged death. It was only last October that the “bloodbath” involving Australian sheep exported to the Middle East for the annual ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ , renewed calls for Australia to steer away from the live export trade after thousands were butchered on local streets. To add further disgust to Australians, it was only 2 months later in December, that the mechanical breakdown of a Western Australian ship saw 13000 animals stranded at sea. …show more content…

A WPA report in October 2010 showed that sheep processed domestically for meat are worth 20% more to the Australian economy compared to those that are exported live. The same report showed that another benefit of transitioning to a chilled meat trade is that the utilization of abattoirs currently operating at just 59% could contribute $204 million to the economy each year and create 1300 jobs.

The shift away from live animal exports is already showing great promise with the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture stating that the value of meat exports for 2014 was worth $10 billion more compared to that of live exports.

A phase-out of the cruel live export trade will not only have long term benefits for the Australian economy, it will prevent further support for an industry that every major international animal welfare organisation condemns as cruel and unacceptable.

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