The video, which is referred to heavily in the reports as proof of adequate animal welfare conditions, was not released, with the department telling RSPCA it would take too long to collate the footage.
CALLA WAHLQUIST: ‘The RSPCA has criticised a decision to redact information about heat stress management and other animal welfare concerns in reports from Australian live export ships. The heavily redacted reports were released to the RSPCA by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources under freedom of information laws, after being delayed for six months. Video footage – which is referred to heavily in the reports as proof of adequate animal welfare conditions – was not released, with the department telling RSPCA it would take too long to collate the footage…
The RSPCA senior policy officer Jed Goodfellow said the reports and images that were released showed continued animal welfare concerns despite being taken when the live export industry was “on its very best behaviour”. “Perhaps even more alarming than the evidence of continued suffering on board these ships, are the pages and pages of redacted information, consistently where management of animals and heat stress on board are discussed,” Goodfellow said.
“The department has also flat out refused to release the video footage taken on board the vessels, which is the only real means of truly appreciating the animals’ behaviour and condition during the high heat-stress periods.” A damning report released in October found the department was “lacking” as a regulator because it also acted as a promoter of the live export trade’. SOURCE…
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