Australia to investigate new Indonesia cattle video
Australia will investigate new images appearing to show cattle being mistreated at an Indonesian abattoir, and could reimpose an export ban on the slaughterhouse, Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig has said, according to Reuters.
Australia suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia for a month in 2011 after a video showing cows mistreated was aired on Australian television. New footage was broadcast in Australia on 28 February, 2012, prompting calls for Australia to reimpose its ban on live cattle trade with Indonesia.
“There will be mistakes, there will be slips, but the system ensures we can deal with those slips and mistakes,” Mr Ludwig told Australian media.
He said an independent regulator would investigate the latest incident. Under rules introduced after last year’s ban, the Australian government requires exporters to ensure animal welfare standards are met at the Indonesian abattoirs they supply.
Industry bodies the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and the Cattle Council of Australia rejected calls for any wider suspension of animal exports, and said the new rules for trade with Indonesia would allow authorities to fix problems with individual abattoirs.
“Last year when that happened there was no system of regulation which sat underneath the industry in Indonesia,” Cattlemen’s Association president Luke Bowen said.
“Now we are in a position where there is a system of regulation put in place by the Australian government. If there are problems identified, there is a rule book and there are penalties involved.”
