WA: Cruelty complaint could impact on whole live export industry

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2003
WA: Cruelty complaint could impact on whole live export industry

By Holly Nott

PERTH, Dec 18 AAP - An investigation into a shipment of Australian sheep uncovered
"disturbing cruelty", prompting a formal complaint with possible ramifications for the
whole live export industry, an animal welfare group said today.

Animals Australia instigated the eight-day investigation into the transport of 100,000
sheep on board MV Al Kuwait, which left Fremantle on November 2 bound for several ports
in the Middle East.

The organisation's investigator, former South Australian police officer Lyn White,
said she saw dead, dying, blind and sick sheep both on board the Al Kuwait and in Shuweikh
Port, Kuwait City.

A report compiled by Ms White was handed to Fremantle Police two days ago in support
of a benchmark animal cruelty complaint that Animals Australia executive director Glenys
Oogjes said could impact on the entire live export industry.

Ms Oogjes said expert legal advice indicated every live export vessel that left Western
Australia was potentially in breach of Section 19 (3)a of the state's 2002 Animal Welfare
Act.

The section states that a peron in charge of an animal is cruel to an animal if it
is transported in a way that is likely to cause harm.

"Ironically, the evidence that will support this belief comes from the live export
industry's own research and statistics," Ms Oogjes said.

"The investigations in Kuwait only confirmed it."

Ms White said Al Kuwait crew members had told her about 1,000 sheep had died before
the ship docked in Kuwait City.

"More dead animals were being found in pens on the vessel during unloading in Kuwait," she said.

"And unlike the Cormo Express, this was considered a voyage conducted in ideal conditions."

More than 54 per cent of Australia's live sheep exports last year left from Fremantle port.

Many other live export vessels made Fremantle a port of call - which may make them
subject to WA laws, Ms Oogjes said.

"Regardless of where the animals originated ... if they are going out of Fremantle,
then the laws could impact on them as well," she said.

Earlier today, Police Commissioner Barry Matthews confirmed they had received the complaint
and were considering the matter.

"It's probable that we will forward it through to the RSPCA because ... they are the
experts and they have the charter to do this work, and they have the experience, the vets
and so forth," he told Perth radio 6PR.

But Ms Oogjes said the investigation should not be referred to the RSPCA because "it
requires the independence, resources and expertise of the WA state police".

AAP hn/cbs/br

KEYWORD: EXPORTS (PIX AVAILABLE)

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