MYTH: The Australian livestock export industry is cruel.

FACT: Claims of cruelty by animal rights extremist groups are absolutely untrue. Everyone involved in the industry cares deeply about animal welfare.

Australian industry places the highest priority on animal care. Exporters ensure livestock are transported humanely, so that they arrive in the best possible condition.

Australia’s standards are better than those of any other country. No other nation makes the investment in welfare that Australia does.

MYTH: The Australian livestock export industry is unregulated.

FACT: The industry is highly regulated and monitored by the Australian Government. Industry and Government will not tolerate cruelty.

Independent expert studies show Australia has the world’s highest livestock export standards of animal care. All exporters and their ships must be licensed and certified and can be shut down if they breach Government standards.

MYTH: The export trade takes away Australian jobs and income by moving abattoir jobs overseas.

FACT: The trade does not take jobs away from the domestic meat processing industry. Instead, it creates jobs for 13,000 Australians, particularly those living in rural and remote areas, and contributes $1.8 billion in Gross Domestic Product each year. 

Some opponents of livestock exports claim abattoirs have shut down due to the livestock export trade. This is not true. The reality is that the biggest problem facing Australian abattoirs is not a lack of business but a shortage of qualified Australian workers. Many have been forced to hire qualified workers from overseas.

MYTH: A chilled meat export trade could replace live exports.

FACT: Although Australia exports chilled meat to the same countries it supplies with live animals, there is strong demand for all products because they serve different needs.

If Australia pulled out of the livestock export market, it would be replaced not with chilled Australian meat, but with live animals from other supplier countries.

These other countries do not share Australia’s commitment to animal welfare and do not have the resources to invest in improving conditions.

MYTH: Australia doesn’t do enough to improve animal care.

FACT: Australia invests heavily in improving animal welfare in the countries that we export to. Australian farmers and livestock exporters are committed to improving animal welfare standards for Australian animals, and all animals that are part of the livestock export trade.

The Australian livestock export industry works with importing countries to improve animal handling and processing practices, and has a dedicated office with full time staff in the Middle East to ensure these standards are constantly improving.

Banning Australia from the trade would be a short-sighted exercise, causing a decline in global animal welfare standards.  

MYTH: Australia’s exported animals are killed without compassion.

FACT: This is not true. Australia works with the countries that we export to in an effort to improve standards. The industry has trained locals in new humane processing methods and provided top-of-the-line equipment.

MYTH: Animals on export ships are packed so tightly that they can’t lie down or reach feed troughs.

FACT: All animals have enough room to move around and lie down onboard ships.

Animals are kept in pens to keep them secure, however the Government’s strict rules on pen size and stocking density ensure all animals have adequate space onboard. Ships that don’t comply are not allowed to operate.

All animals also have constant access to feed and water. Any animal not eating or drinking is identified and given additional care.

MYTH: Sick animals on export ships are tossed overboard alive.

FACT: This is untrue. Every ship has an accredited stockman on board, and vessels travelling to the Middle East also have an Australian vet on board to care for and monitor the animals wellbeing, and treat ailing animals in ‘hospital pens’.

The vet works with qualified stockmen to detect and immediately treat any illness that may arise, and holds daily meetings with crew to discuss the animals’ health and care.

In 2006 99.1% of sheep, 99.82% of cattle and 99.51% of goats were delivered to their destination in good health after being well cared for during the voyage. AQIS also investigates on board mortalities as per regulatory process. Read further information on export success rates >>

MYTH: A 60 Minutes story in 2006 showed Australian cattle being abused overseas.

FACT: Middle Eastern industry experts have confirmed that NONE of the cattle shown in the 60 Minutes footage were from Australia.

This misrepresentation of images is typical of the falsehoods and misinformation spread by animal rights extremists.