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Court denounces live exports as cruel

February 8 - In a major development in the campaign against live exports, a Perth Magistrate’s Court this afternoon ruled that Australia’s live export industry was cruel.

Magistrate Catherine Crawford was ruling on cruelty charges brought against the Directors of Emmanuel Exports Pty Ltd, the largest live sheep export company in Western Australia.

Despite finding evidence of cruelty and suffering, Magistrate Crawford was forced to acquit the defendants on a technicality, citing conflicting state and federal legislation.

Were it not for inconsistencies between Commonwealth and State legislation one of Australia’s leading live export companies would have been convicted of animal cruelty.   

 “In effect, this means the export permits being signed by Mr Rudd’s government give a green light to committing animal cruelty and breaching local animal protection legislation,” said Handle with Care spokesperson Dr Hugh Wirth.

“So this no longer animal protection groups acknowledging live export is cruel;  it is the determination of a respected magistrate based on the facts presented to her during an eight day trial.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that live export is an appallingly cruel trade and will no longer be tolerated by the Australian community.”