Export footage sparks outrage

SHOCKING footage of Australian cattle being inhumanely treated at foreign slaughterhouses has sparked debate on the contentious live export issue in Ipswich.

The footage shown on Four Corners on Monday night drew nation-wide condemnation and prompted Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig to suspend exports to some Indonesian killing facilities and order an immediate review.

Heading into the last federal election, the RSPCA called on candidates in the Ipswich seat of Blair to make the banning of live exports part of their election platforms.

Losing Greens candidate Dr Patricia Petersen backed the call and at the time held a rally in Ipswich opposing the practice.

The now independent state candidate for Ipswich said ordering an investigation into the practices at some Indonesian slaughterhouses was not enough, and said live exports should be banned immediately.

“For too long, the industry and government have attempted to hide the truth.

"Now that it’s well and truly out, the government needs to get its moral act together and ban the trade,” she said.

She backed the previous RSPCA calls that banning the practice would help improve production at the JBS Australia plant in Dinmore.

JBS Australia director John Berry said a previous meat industry study into the trade had shown it did affect their businesses.

Mr Berry said they were keen to see what comes of the review ordered by Minister Ludwig.

Blair MP Shayne Neumann said the footage shown was shocking and should not be tolerated.

But Mr Neumann said the live export industry was important to Australia, pumping nearly $1 billion into the economy each year, and employed more than 12,000 people.

He backed the review by Minister Ludwig.

“We need to make sure the movement of cattle meets our legal obligations,” he said.