Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

take action live sheep export alternate
Priority issue
Australia is closer than it has ever…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

featured media release sheep v2
Media release: No further delays on live sheep export phase out
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

AWS24 Banner 1200x630
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2024
Through their eyes: Strengthening our…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Media centre
  4. DAFF Investigation ignores live export…

Last year 21,000 Australian sheep were brutally killed in Pakistan (seen here on ABC’s Four Corners) after being rejected from their original destination in Bahrain. Today, Australians will be shocked to learn that an official government investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has resulted in no repercussions for the exporter involved and no action to prevent such a disaster from re-occurring.

The animals were unloaded from the Ocean Drover in Pakistan by exporter Wellard Rural Exports after they were rejected from their original destination, Bahrain. This rejection was not disclosed to Pakistan authorities by either the exported or by the Australian government.

“It is unclear exactly why Bahrain rejected these sheep, but failing to disclose this information to the Pakistan government proved catastrophic and what ensued was some of the worst cruelty ever encountered in the live export trade,” said RSPCA Australia CEO, Heather Neil.

RSPCA Australia said the DAFF report has failed to address key questions, including why Pakistan was not informed of the rejection by Bahrain, why the sheep were rejected in the first place, and how Pakistan could have been considered a legitimate contingency plan for the exporter when it was not approved to take Australian animals when the Ocean Drover left Australia.

“The rejection alone should have in itself sparked a full investigation”, said Ms Neil.

“It was the 2003 Cormo Express incident, where 57,000 sheep rejected by Saudi Arabia were stranded in the Persian Gulf for 2 months, which led to the development of written agreements (MOUs) with some importing countries; the introduction of Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock; and a requirement for contingency plans in the case of future import disagreements.

“The 2011 exposure of appalling cruelty in Indonesian abattoirs led to the development of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance Program, which was supposed to prevent the type of horrors witnessed in Pakistan.

“The rejection by Bahrain shows that the MOUs are not worth the paper they are written on. The disaster in Pakistan shows that our regulations cannot prevent cruelty in importing countries. And today we learn that even when the government has the power to investigate and prosecute exporters when breaches occur, they have failed to do so. 

“Live export is a senseless trade – from both an animal welfare and economic perspective – and planning for a future without it is in the best interests of Australian animals and a sustainable livestock industry in this country.”


Media contact: Elise Meakin 0419 748 907
 

subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.