Yes, this is the same suspension put in place by the Labor Government to prevent heinous animal cruelty from continuing; the same suspension that finally motivated the Federal Government to implement sweeping regulatory changes after three decades of inaction during which tens of millions of animals have suffered; and the same suspension that led the cruel ‘Mark I’ slaughter box widely used throughout Indonesia — to be banned.

Caring Australians have responded with their own apology — to animals.

This, the people’s apology,has gone viral on social media, reaching over 350,000 people in just 24 hours — confirming what we already know: most Australians want an end to live animal export.

Tony Abbott may have forgotten about the suffering of animals like ‘Brian’, but the rest of Australia certainly hasn’t.

As far as we are concerned, Mr Abbott’s ‘apology’ is merely a road bump on the path to ending live export. Animals Australia's campaign against this cruel trade has continued through four changes of government. Over that time we have seen dramatic changes. Some of the cruellest practices we have documented have been banned and live export is now harder, more expensive, with fewer animals being exported as a result.

Despite Mr Abbott's claims that a Liberal Government would never have suspended live exports to Indonesia in the wake of the outcry sparked by our 2011 investigation, history suggests otherwise. In 2006 the Howard Government suspended live exports to Egypt after our investigation footage aired on a 60 Minutes exposé. Sheep exports to Egypt remain banned to this day.

We know that even a government that is supportive of the live export trade in principle cannot defend the horrific cruelty that we have uncovered time and time again. Rest assured, our investigations will continue. We will persist in holding this trade to account, and there will come a day when neither major political party can afford to continue to support live animal export. Until that day, your relentless voices on behalf of animals will never be in vain.

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