Sydney: protest tegen veetransport

Sydney’s Town Hall Square will be the site for a major public protest against the federal government’s continued support for the Live Export trade.

On Sunday, 15 April at 1pm, organisers of the rally, the Animal Rights Coalition, will publicly voice their condemnation of the trade, with hundreds already pledging to attend.

Concerned citizens have flocked to the cause through social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and support continues to grow leading up to this weekend’s event.

Following ABC’s Four Corners’ graphic expose of the brutal treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesia’s abattoirs in May last year, a wave of public outcry and protests swept the country, forcing the federal government to act. However, after a brief halt to the trade, export was resumed subject to the conditions of the new Supply Chain Assurance Framework.

Rally group spokesperson, Luke Sullivan, claims that the resumption of the trade with Indonesia and the continued export to the Middle East under these conditions has done nothing to reduce the inherent cruelty of the industry.

A number of high-profile guest speakers will headline the rally including Greens MLC David Shoebridge. The Greens’ consistent condemnation of the trade has culminated in the party announcing their intention to introduce a private bill that would see a winding down of the industry.

The Animal Rights Coalition have publicly condemned what it refers to as the government’s “complicit involvement in the trade.”

“The federal government is effectively aiding and abetting LiveCorp and the Meat & Livestock Association in this abhorrent trade. These animals are sentient beings, and they have rights. We will continue to protest this issue until the federal government faces up to its responsibility for the welfare of these animals,” said Sullivan.

Other speakers at the rally will include Dr Adele Lloyd of Sentient (The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics), Emma Hurst and Phillip Hall of Animal Liberation NSW and Luke Sullivan of the Animal Rights Coalition.

When: 1 p.m. Sunday 15th April