Animal Welfare at Risk Over Decision to Return Livestock to MV Bahijah
Peak animal welfare group, the Australian Alliance for Animals has expressed dismay over the decision to re-export more than 15,000 sheep on board the MV Bahijah to the Middle East.
It is understood the livestock will now be forced to endure at least another 33 days at sea, by taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope due to the risk of Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea.
Alliance spokesperson, Dr Jed Goodfellow described the move as a failure to put animal welfare first after the sheep had already spent more than a month at sea and in heatwave conditions.
“The decision to re-load the sheep back onto the MV Bahijah and put them to sea is cruel and indefensible.
“These animals have already suffered enough after being stranded for weeks on the vessel in hot and humid conditions, putting them at further risk of death and disease.
“This will be a black mark against the Department of Agriculture, which has previously claimed that animal welfare is at the heart of its decision-making. This decision shows that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The Albanese Government made a commitment to end live sheep exports at the 2022 federal election but is yet to publicly release a transition plan that includes clear legislative timelines.
Dr Goodfellow said it was time the Government delivered on its election promise.
“There’s no excuse in delaying the announcement any longer. The transition to the chilled and frozen lamb and mutton trade is already underway, sparing tens of thousands of sheep from a long and arduous journey towards a cruel slaughter.
“Many producers have already moved towards more ethical and sustainable markets, strengthening rural economies through increased investment and value-adding in local supply chains via the chilled meat export trade, creating new jobs and providing producers with a profitable and secure income stream.
“The time to legislate the date to phase out the live export trade is now. Ending this cruel and unnecessary trade cannot come soon enough.”
KEY POINTS
Australians overwhelmingly support the Federal Government’s policy to phase out live sheep exports by sea (78%, McCrindle, 2022)
Almost 44,000 Australians signed a Parliamentary petition – one of the largest official e-Petitions in history – calling on the government to legislate the date to end the cruel trade as soon as possible (August 2023)
The live export trade is in long-term structural decline and accounts for 0.1% of Australia’s agricultural exports
Australian chilled sheep meat exports are 58 times the value of the live sheep export trade ($4.5 billion v $77 million, 22/23, ABS).
The chilled sheep meat export trade to the Middle East alone is 8 times the value of the entire live sheep export trade ($632 million v $77 million, 22/23, ABS).
NOTES FOR MEDIA
Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765
Dr Goodfellow is available for interviews:
Dr Jed Goodfellow leads the Alliance’s law and policy reform agenda. He has over 20 years’ experience in animal welfare law, policy and advocacy. He completed his PhD in animal welfare regulation in 2015.
About the Australian Alliance for Animals
The Australian Alliance for Animals is a national charity leading a strategic alliance of Australia’s key animal protection organisations with a combined supporter base of over 2 million people. Core members include Animals Australia, Humane Society International Australia, World Animal Protection Australia, Compassion in World Farming, FOUR PAWS Australia, and Voiceless, the animal protection institute. Website: www.allianceforanimals.org.au.
Photo credit: Stop Live Exports