Footage of Australian cattle being abused in Mauritius follows series of animal welfare outrages in the live export industry

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The Department of Agriculture is investigating fresh allegations of animal cruelty in the live export trade, following the emergence of a video showing horrific cruelty meted out to Australian bulls in Mauritius.

Footage filmed by Animals Australia shows cattle being hauled on to trucks before collapsing, bound by the feet and neck and slaughtered in a rudimentary slaughterhouse.

Animals Australia said the bulls were removed from an approved feedlot, contrary to live export regulations. The organisation’s investigators said groups of men descended upon the bulls in a “festival” atmosphere, with Australian cattle considered “entertaining” due to their alarm at being uncharacteristically handled.

Bulls were tied to walls overnight with short head restraints, with one animal left to bleed overnight after breaking his horn falling off the truck.

The exporter of the bulls is identified by Animals Australia as International Livestock Exports, which is already under investigation for breaches of live export rules following an incident of alleged animal cruelty in Kuwait earlier this year.

The footage, filmed last month in Mauritius, follows a series of animal welfare outrages in the live export trade, most recently last month, where sheep were filmed having their throats slit multiple times in Jordan.

The government has looked to downplay further regulation of live exports, promoting independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who will table a private member’s bill to end the trade, to claim it “doesn’t give a toss” about animal welfare.

Animals Australia said the footage shows the need for strong sanctions for breaches of the government’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, which demands exporters adhere to animal welfare standards and demonstrate control throughout the supply chain.

A report commissioned by the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council last week called for an industry-run quality assurance program in place of government regulation – a proposal strongly criticised by Animals Australia.

"During the past month the Department of Agriculture has been provided with extensive evidence showing Australian animals being subjected to shocking cruelty in Jordan and Mauritius," said Animals Australia legal counsel Shatha Hamade.

“It is clear that without strong regulatory sanctions exporters will not take their legal responsibility seriously.”

Animals Australia said the loading of cattle on to trucks to be taken away from an approved feedlot was a “direct contravention” of Australian live export regulations.

"The cruelty endured by Australian bulls in Mauritius is horrendous,” Hamade said. “Those responsible clearly believe this is acceptable. The only way that this will not be repeated is fear of consequences ... or the associated loss of the supply of animals for importers.

“The Abbott government has made their support of live export abundantly clear but if minister [Barnaby] Joyce does nothing else, he should sit exporters down and read them the riot act.”

A spokesman at the Department of Agriculture confirmed to Guardian Australia it had received a complaint alleging breaches of the live export code in Mauritius, on top of allegations of mistreatment of sheep in Jordan and Kuwait.

“Material to support these complaints was provided to the department by Animals Australia and investigations have commenced,” he said.

“The department does not comment on individual exporters. Investigations take as long as needed to ensure a fair and accurate outcome is reached.

“No regulatory system can eliminate the issues it has been put in place to guard against. What is important is how we address these incidents, and that exporters are held accountable.”