Australian Live Animal Exports
In collaboration with:
Live Export trade investigations from Australia for Animals Australia
Since 2006 we have been undertaking investigations for Animals Australia in the Middle East which have resulted in a ban on the export of cattle to Egypt and toughened regulations on exports to the Middle East. Our most successful investigation in our history supported Animals Australia’s campaign to end live exports from Australia. We exposed the horrific cruelty inflicted on Australian cattle at a number of Indonesian slaughterhouses. The level of industry knowledge and complicity revealed a damning picture of the live export trade and led to sweeping reforms of the entire industry. The investigation caused a tidal wave of outrage throughout Australia.
Our previous investigations resulted in dozens of major media exposés, in Australia and overseas. But it was our 2011 investigation in Indonesia that led to the biggest public outcry and forced the Australian government to regulate the live trade for the very first time.
Impact from the Investigations
Public Outrage at Live Exports from Australia
The investigation for Animals Australia into the live exports of cattle to Indonesia airs on major TV channels in Australia. Websites of Animals Australia and campaign partners, RSPCA Australia and GetUp! crashed as outraged Australians made their voices heard. In the first 24 hours after the screening a bill is announced in parliament to end live exports as the government immediately suspended exports to the abattoirs identified; the Agriculture Ministers phone system is brought down; tens of thousands of emails are sent to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard local MPs; the number one nationwide Twitter trend becomes #BanLiveExport and a petition to ban live exports is the fastest growing petition in GetUp!'s history. Australians send a clear message to their leaders that they will accept nothing less than a total ban on live animal export.
40,000 media stories followed the investigation sparking massive public opposition to the live export trade and awakening the consciences of a nation to the plight of animals.
More than 20,000 ordinary Australians attend rallies in major cities across the country to demand an end to live animal export.
Live Exports to Indonesia suspended after public outage
Several bills in Parliament tabled to ban live exports
One year on from Track’s investigation in Indonesia – the campaign against live exports from Australia gathered pace. Significant milestones achieved included the rapid uptake of stunning in Indonesia, the banning of cruel 'Mark 1' restraint boxes, the tabling of four historic live export Bills in Federal parliament and live export of sheep dropping to a ten-year low in 2011.
The worst abuses systemic to the trade such as the ‘roping’ slaughter of cattle and car-boot transport of sheep have been outlawed
A new live export regulation system comes into place in some parts of the Middle East and in Turkey, requiring live exporters to prove that animals can be traced right through until slaughter in importing countries and only use abattoirs that meet basic standards. These reforms represent the strongest action ever taken by the Australian Government in relation to the live export industry.
Currently 4 million fewer sheep are being exported from Australia annually since we started investigating the trade in 2006.
To read the full investigation report published by Animals Australia and watch footage from the groundbreaking investigation - click here
Tracks Investigations has undertaken over 295 investigative film projects supporting over 40 conservation, environmental and animal protection NGOs since its inception in 2006. Learn more about how you can work with us here. To support our investigative work for animals, click here.