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Sheep deaths referred to WA police
19 Dec 2003
In a move which will put further pressure on the live animal trade, Animals Australia has referred the deaths of over 1,000 sheep on a recent shipment to Kuwait to police. The group's investigator, a former policewoman, photographed the dead sheep as the Al Kuwait carrier berthed in Kuwait with more than 103,000 sheep on board.
Animals Australia is attempting to have the exporters and shippers prosecuted under new animal welfare laws in Western Australia, which prohibit transportation causing harm to animals.
The investigator, Lyn White, said many animals became blind due to infections on the voyage and many were dead and injured. She said Australian farmers would be outraged if they saw the way the sheep were treated in the abattoirs. Footage which is too distressing to be released publicly will be sent to the Federal Government.
WA Agriculture Minister, Kim Chance, said the complaint has no grounds under WA law, as once the sheep leave trucks and enter Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service facilities their welfare falls under commonwealth jurisdiction.
The Australian, 19/12/03, page 3.
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