SYDNEY—A coalition of more than 800 international animal rights groups have targeted the Federal Government and Australia's billion dollar live animal export business.
Handle With Care (HWC) today announced at a meeting in Sydney it planned to step up its efforts to end live animal exports from Australia.
Animal activists highlighted the treatment of livestock during and after long-distance transport to other countries.
Coalition member Animals Australia returned from an overseas investigation last December with video footage of live Australian sheep being sold to locals and then stuffed in the boots of cars.
"Right throughout the Middle East I have seen no indication that there is any feeling for the animals - that they understand, that they bruise, they break bones, that they feel fear or terror," Animals spokeswoman Lyn White told ABC television.
Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman Scott Hansen said the organisation visited many recipient countries of Australian animals to train locals in how to properly handle livestock.
He also said shutting down the $1.8 billion-a-year industry that employs 13,000 people in rural areas would cripple their livelihoods.
"We are disappointed that this coalition of animal welfare groups have failed to take into account both the investment and the progress being made by the live export industry," Mr Hansen told the ABC.
Ms White countered that people in recipient countries believed they had the right to abuse imported livestock and would continue to do so as long as Australia exported live animals.
Handle With Care spokesman Hugh Wirth said the coalition would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
"We've got no choice now but to talk to the Prime Minister about it, if he will receive us, and that will be a test of the government's intentions," Mr Wirth told the ABC.
Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has supported the industry since taking the job after last year's federal election.
His office told the ABC that industry and Government would continue to work hard to improve animal welfare outcomes in export markets.
Feeds