HUNDREDS OF West Australians opposed to the export of live animals will again link hands to form a Human Chain across Stirling Traffic Bridge on Sunday 9 October to highlight the wide community support to phase out the controversial trade. The annual event has attracted over 1200 participants in the past, and there are hopes to surpass that number this year. Previous years have seen Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt attending, as well federal MPs Melissa Parke and Alannah MacTiernan, State Labor MLAs Simone McGurk and Lisa Baker and Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren. This year will see Fremantle’s new federal Labor MP, Josh Wilson attending.

Katrina Love, Campaign Manager for Stop Live Exports, said the organisation is not opposed to agriculture, primary production, or farmers, but it is opposed to the long sea voyages animals are made to endure and to the horrific abuse that numerous investigations continue to expose, without any repercussions for repeat offenders exporters.

The Australian public first truly galvanised in opposition to the live trade after the 2011 Four Corners ‘A Bloody Business’ exposé of the brutal treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesia. Since then and despite the implementation of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS), there have been to date 113 reports of non-compliance/breaches, with more to come after this year’s Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) which ran from 12-15 September. Animals continue to be sent to every country involved in those breaches regardless of the investigation status or outcome and no exporter has had any serious penalties imposed on them.

The protest will take place from 10.45am until midday on Sunday 9 October across the Stirling Traffic Bridge in Fremantle, with participants asked to dress in black as a symbol of mourning for the millions of animals sent to a fate worse than death.

“And we also ask that people wear signs stating their occupation or position in life e.g. teacher, farmer, nurse, father, human being etc. to exhibit the diversity of those who oppose live exports,” said Ms Love.

“The export of live animals over long distances is an inherently cruel and unnecessary trade. Decades of evidence have proven that it is impossible to realistically control the movement, handling, treatment and slaughter of animals once they leave our shores, and 70% of animals exported live will have their throats cut while fully conscious.” Katrina Love