‘Move Forward’: WSPA’s new initiative to end live animal export, protecting animals and promoting jobs
Oct 25, 2011
WSPA is excited to launch our new ‘Move Forward’ initiative, bringing together WSPA supporters, volunteers and staff from all over Australia to help change Labor's position on live animal export, in the run up to their National Conference on 3 - 4 December.
This conference is Labor’s highest decision-making forum. The conference usually takes place only once every three years and during it they will consider amendments to the Party platform and a number of resolutions.
Jessica Borg, WSPA Campaigns Manager said, “We saw this conference as a huge window of opportunity and at a meeting together with our volunteers and supporters, came up with a plan to really ‘Move Forward’. Together we decided that from now until December, we would work to encourage the Labor Party to adopt a policy at their upcoming conference which aims to phase out live exports”.
Transitioning Labor’s support away from live export and instead to a more viable and humane alternative, that being an increased chilled meat trade, is an important step in the journey to ending the cruel trade.
There are already a number of Labor representatives who also see the benefits of supporting the alternative. MP Kelvin Thomson was recently quoted saying, “I personally think the live export trade should come to an end and I believe both animal welfare interests and our economic interests, would be better served by our processing all meat domestically in Australia, as New Zealand does.”
To raise awareness of the multiple benefits of ending the live trade, WSPA and Grant Courtney, Federal president of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) recently joined forces on a video, ‘Live Exports, Jobs and The Economy: a solution to the live animal export trade’ that answers crucial questions on the economic and jobs side of live export.
How you can help
© WSPA
In over 100 electorates across Australia, there is a WSPA supporter who has decided to become a Move Forward Captain. Each Captain is undertaking a number of local activities, raising awareness and reaching out to their local Labor representative to help end the trade.
You can connect, collaborate with and support the Captain in your electorate by going to www.moveforward.org.au
Revised industry framework announcement
On Friday 21 October 2011, Senator Joe Ludwig announced a revised industry framework for live exports, following the Bill Farmer review. Unfortunately within the new framework exporters are still ultimately responsible for animal welfare. Yet it has been proven time and again that they have not been able to achieve this.
In response to the announcement, WSPA campaign manager Jessica Borg said, “Senator Ludwig’s claim that the new framework will address the Australian public’s disgust around live export is a fantasy.”
“Under Labor’s new guidelines exported Australian animals can still be tripped up and then slaughtered while fully conscious, many will still die horrific deaths from stress, starvation and disease on lengthy and overcrowded sea voyages.
“What makes this even more disappointing is that the review has missed the opportunity to explore alternatives to the live export trade. The Government and livestock industry are ignoring the viable alternative – a local chilled meat export industry that protects and creates more Australian rural jobs, results in higher profitability through value add opportunities and addresses the public’s welfare concerns.”
Take action today by visiting www.moveforward.org.au
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