AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL WELFARE

Running head: AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL WELFARE
AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL WELFARE
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AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL WELFARE1
Introduction
The state and territory governments in Australia are primarily responsible for the
welfare of the animals and enforcing laws for the prevention of cruelty towards those
animals. In the recent years there has been a growing concern among donations about the
welfare of the animals as they are often seen as being neglected. The constitution of Australia
can be seen as lacking proper mention of the animal rights and welfare. However, there have
been many influences over the government by various organizations to make them receptive
and cooperative in enforcing laws for the animal welfare.1 One of the major issues faced for
the animal welfare in Australia is the live export of animals. Australia is one of the largest
exporters of live cattle. Although there are specific laws regulating live export industry of
Australia yet often times it is seen that the live exporters torture cattle inhumanely. This paper
aims to argue whether the practice of live export of cattle should be allowed to continue in
Australia. In this context the paper would be discussing about the legal framework existing
for governing the Australian live export industry. The paper will also review whether the
laws which address the concerns in the animal welfare in Australia are adequate. In
furtherance, the paper will also mention some strategies for the better protection of the animal
interest and consider their advantages and disadvantages.
Live export
The term live export can be referred to as the transportation of animals across the
national borders for a commercial purpose of either slaughter or breeding. A number of
countries can be seen as being involved in the trade of live exportation of animals. One of the
largest live exporters in this trade is Australia. The live export industry has been criticized by
many animal lovers and animal welfare support workers because of the evidence found for
1 Chen, Peter John. Animal welfare in Australia: Politics and policy. (Sydney University Press, 2016)

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL WELFARE2
the cruelty of the animals during transit. Because of the sheerness of the distance to be
travelled for exporting the animals there have been many evidence found towards animal
cruelty2. The lengths and trials faced by the animals during the journey of life export have
been explained by the Director of the Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, Professor Clive
Phillips. The journey of live export of animals can be observed as starting with gathering the
stock from remote properties, and ending with the slaughter of the animals in the destination
country. In between these processes the stocks are required to be moved at least an additional
5 or 6 times and the entire procedure is possible to be lasting between 1 and 2 months3. Very
little knowledge is recognized about the accumulative consequences of these collective
pressures on the welfare of animals but it is conceivable that manifold stressors can result in
making the animals apprehensive, depressed or go into a stage of erudite vulnerability.
Before getting boarded in the ships or planes, animals might be strained by being deprived of
food and water, extraordinary densities of the stocking and great temperature at the same time
as being conveyed by rail or road for more than 50 hours. These traumas can be seen as
causing desiccation, hurting and salmonellosis in the sheep and other breathing sickness in
cattle. Once the animals are put on board on an export vessel, the animals can potentially be
restrained for almost a month, which is almost equal to 744 successive hours. During these
confinements the presence of high temperatures and lack of proper aeration can further add to
lethal heat stroke in the cattle, predominantly in those classes whose physiology is not suited
to endure hot climates. Sheep are shifted from a diet based on pasture to intense pellets after
they are put on board. This change is often seen as being rejected by some animals. Failure of
eating can be leading to salmonellosis and further in the animal’s death4. About half of deaths
of the sheep occur in this way. Ammonia gas is generated by the waste products of the
2 Chen, Peter John. Animal welfare in Australia: Politics and policy. (Sydney University Press, 2016)
3 Sinclair, Michelle, et al. "Australian public opinions regarding the live export trade before and after an
animal welfare media expose." Animals 8.7 (2018): 106.
4 Evans, Brodie, and Hope Johnson. "(Mis) representing and responding to the problem of food security
within animal cruelty policy debates around the live export trade." (2019).