Acting Greens Leader and Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi is calling on the Government to step in and stop all live export trade through conflict zones immediately.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is just awful. Sending a ship full of thousands of sheep and cattle through such risky conditions defies all logic. This ship should never have been allowed to depart the shores of Western Australia.
“The government must step in right away and completely ban all voyages in and around conflict zones, until live sheep export is banned altogether.
“Further increasing the suffering of animals on live export ships by sending them through conflict zones, where they face longer and even more dangerous journeys, is beyond cruel.
“The Agriculture Minister must answer why this ship was allowed to sail knowing the dangers. What risk assessment was undertaken to ensure animal welfare and safety? Is there even an independent observer on this ship?
“It’s clear the industry doesn’t give a damn about the animals and their welfare, all they care about is their profits come hell or high water.
“The Labor government must urgently legislate a date to end live export, so the cruelty to sheep can end once and for all,” she said.
