Department of Agriculture investigates fresh reports of non-compliant slaughter of Australian cattle in Indonesia

The Federal live export regulator is investigating reports of brutal and non-compliant slaughter of Australian cattle in Indonesia after distressing new footage emerged. Footage collected by Animals Australia — which has not been released — during recent Eid-al-Adha celebrations reportedly shows cattle being killed by the banned Mark I boxes and roping slaughter. Animals Australia lodged a complaint with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on Friday, saying it was disturbed that practices exposed in 2011 were still being used today, despite them being banned under Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System guidelines. The complaint relates to breaches of the system at two slaughterhouses in Aceh. The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council said it had been in contact with the department and would help with the investigation. ALEC chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton said exporters, importers and in-market teams were verifying how any breaches could have occurred within the two facilities. He said video footage of the slaughter was distressing, unacceptable and not appropriate treatment of Australian livestock but believed it showed isolated incidents. “Exporters take any breach of the ESCAS extremely seriously and have been reviewing the footage and all the information provided by the regulator to address these allegations,” Mr Harvey-Sutton said. He said the cattle likely came from northern Australia, but it was too early to tell whether they were from WA, the Northern Territory or Queensland. There are six Australian exporters who supply the two abattoirs. One has already suspended supply following the complaint. Others are trying to determine whether it is their cattle, and could follow suite in coming days. Mr Harvey-Sutton said exporters cared for the livestock in their supply chains, and acted quickly to investigate, working with importers and in-market teams. “The industry is regulated and there are systems in place to make any necessary decisions to stop future non-compliance,” Mr Harvey-Sutton said. “Under ESCAS exporters can identify breaches and, if necessary, remove offending facilities from their supply chains.” Mr Harvey-Sutton said Australia had send 260,000 cattle to Indonesia so far this year. He said the cruelty issues in 2011 — which led to the Gillard government putting a snap ban on the industry — were far more systemic. The ESCAS was later introduced to help address the issues. A statement from Animals Australia said the system would not protect animals until regulatory sanctions for breaches of ESCAS lead to licence suspensions.