Sussan Ley is doing what we live in hope we will see occasionally from our politicians – that they act to bring about policy that demonstrates respect for both people and animals and secondly, that politicians represent the view points predominant in their electorates.
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Many polls over the years have shown that the majority of Australians do not support the live animal export industry.
The call to bring in a phased-out end to the live sheep trade is not a reaction to a one-week media storm.
The appalling suffering that has been documented both on the huge, crowded ships and at the end point where third world slaughterhouse conditions have been documented to be so basic and inadequate most Australians struggle to watch the footage of the killings.
If we don't want to be subject to yet more more footage of animals suffering in transit and then struggling in acute distress when they are killed ineptly, there is only one way out. A ban on the trade.
New Zealand managed to achieve this back in 2007, the sky didn't fall in, the New Zealand agriculture industry is still alive and well.
I support Sussan Ley’s stance. It is a natural and rational response to looking at the mountains of damning evidence. Other politicians would prefer to kick the can down the road for other ministers to deal with in the future.
What we don't need is yet more expensive enquiries and ineffective damage control without real change.
Cassandra Pollock, Wangaratta
Well done Sussan
I would like to congratulate Sussan Ley on her support for phasing out live exports. It is time to stop this totally unnecessary suffering when we know that Australia’s chilled and frozen meat exports are many times larger and growing.
I note that Derryn Hinch has campaigned for many years to see an end to the cruel live trade.
As soon as these poor animals are out of sight of Australia, the shipping companies obviously do not care.
I was appalled to find there is not even a financial incentive for animals to arrive alive because shipping companies claim dead animals on insurance. How many times do we have to see the terrible conditions? How many times do we have to hear (in hindsight, and obviously false) promises that things will improve?
Australian farmers work so hard to raise animals within the generally excellent welfare standards of Australia. Less than 7 per cent of sheep and cattle are exported live from Australia. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be a funny irony that Senator David Leyonhjelm and his acolytes call themselves “Libertarians”! (‘Ley in livid senator’s sights’, The Border Mail, April 16).
Lauriston Muirhead, Table Top
We need our ABC
I have read that in Senate estimates Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has stated that the government wants to get rid of the ABC. That tells me that the national broadcaster must be doing something right despite the fact that the government has gutted it with a lack of funds.
It is a pity that when the ABC was given the filing cabinets they seem to have not thoroughly read what was in the files.
If the people have to get information from the other networks, I worry for our country.