Once again, the live export industry has been caught with nowhere to go. The aging "Al Messilah", a converted car transporter with closed decks, left Devonport amid a storm of protest in February 2006 with over 71,000 sheep (and some Victorian cattle). 1632 of the sheep died, and AQIS has attributed the mortalities to inanition (starvation) and an outbreak of "pink-eye", which was identified prior to loading at the feedlot.
AQIS further identified that Tasmanian sheep do not cope well with the climatic extremes they are forced to face, the ship was packed, there was insufficient feed on board to sustain the marathon 24 day journey, and insufficient crew to care for the animals (priority was given to the cattle of whom 1.88% also died). Protesters saw ill and injured sheep on trucks and being loaded, and the transport of polled and horned sheep together. Confirmed reports indicate that up to 50% of the sheep did not have the mandated period in the feedlot in preparation either. There are calls for export agents Roberts to face charges under the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act (1993), but the statute of limitations is 6 months, so it is too late. As for sanctions over the ALES breaches - forget it. These issues were reported to the authorities at the wharf, and subsequently to the Minister, to no avail. Fortunately, Animals Australia may have better success with its complaints relating to other reportable voyages under Western Australian legislation.

ALEX 0814

Your thread once again brings to the attention the lack of concern by all authorties involved. What does the RSPCA have to say about this? and what are they doing about this?

The Tassi group was well run and I can only imagine there would have been ample evidence documented with the correct prodedure followed.

We suggested some years ago that this evidence be sent on direct to the public.

I know there are costs involved but with two people in each area it could be done.

We see "yet again" it takes a member of the public to report on this ongoing lack of action which amounts to straight out corruption.

I hope one day we can round up all the people involved along with the Mininsters members of AQIS and the low lifes involved in this barbaric evil trade- Along with the Media owners that own interests and send them off in the same ship with the same position.

In the mean time do you have any written reason why Roberts was not charged AGAIN!?

Mr Howard Mr Rudd what members of the public want to know is- Who do you people think you are?

Years ago there were a number of enquiries into the cruel live trade.
ALL of those Enquiries came back with- Live Animal Exports Are Barbaric Cruel and unnessary and were to be ceased immediatly.

WE the Australia public PAID for those enquires so WHY HAVENT YOU FOLLOWED THEIR FINDINGS?

Roberts has been named over and over again and still no charges have been laid.

The Australian People want to know why not ?

Dear People Against Live Exports and Intensive Farming
The matters of the transports were reported to the Police Inspector (Adrian Shadbolt) present at the wharf gates who reported it to the (then) RSPCA Chief Animal Welfare Officer Graeme Lewis. His comment was "I thought that only applied to cattle". The police were far more concerned with containing the protesters, who were lying in front of trucks and otherwise hindering Roberts' "lawful business". The matters of sick and injured sheep, the transports (or what we could see of them because they were using fully enclosed cattle trucks) and the fact that loading continued into the night in contravention of Devonport City by-laws were reported first to then Minister Steve Kons, who referred it to incoming Minister David Llewellyn, who sent the usual "form" letters for 6 months in response to concerns, then finally wrote saying that he "refused to debate the matter further". Tasmania's Animal Welfare Act (1993 was, and is at present, the version in place), has a statute of limitations of six months, and we have only now got the full facts of the shipment as a result of Animals Australia's efforts. So state legislation for this purpose is now useless, but as I understand it, a clear statement has been made that should Roberts attempt another such shipment charges WILL be laid. But Roberts and Elders are both currently advertising in TasCountry for animals (cattle at the moment)for export, who are shipped to Portland in Victoria and exported from there, and these are impossible to track as so many animals (400,000+) are shipped out of Tasmania interstate each year. There was no sheep shipment from Devonport in 2007 and we are informed that there will not be one next year either (insufficient numbers available, we are told).
Alex

ALEX 0814

SPEAKING OF TASSI- For EVERYBODIES INFORMATION-

Here is copy of a small section of correspondence containing important information a lady wanted you to have.

I would like to discuss the no shipment from Tasi for 2007 with you further.
Think the cruel bastards are trucking them elsewhere to avoid TASI Protests.

"A Public Royal Commission into this whole industry is long overdue!"

" Below letter written RSPCA Tassi 2004"
To: Graeme.Lewis@ifs.tas.gov.au
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2004 5:26 PM

Dear Paul

Thank you for your prompt answer it was helpful. It sometimes is difficult when doing research when people send you from one Department to the next.
However I am now more confused than ever. I thought the RSPCA were a NFP organisation and said they received "no Goverment funding"
Also I watched four corners on ABC when they did a story called a Blind Eye.

In that documentary The RSPCA said they received no Government funding.?

How can I find out what funding they receive?
Kind regards Kate Goodwin

"THIS WAS THE REPLY">

Thanks for your email. Mr Lewis is currently away on annual leave so I shall try and answer your questions for you.
Mr Lewis is the Chief Animal Welfare Officer in the state and is in charge of the RSPCA Inspectorate. His address is at the Inland Fisheries building in Lampton Avenue, Derwent Park, Hobart.

We also have a state manager who over looks the inspectorate and RSPCA shelters.
His name is Steve Coleman who is based at Yagoona RSPCA Centre in New South Wales.
The RSPCA Inspectorate are not Government employed, however RSPCA Australia does receive funding from the Government to employ inspectors and run the inspectorate service.

I hope this has been of some help to you.

Regards

Paul Wyld
Animal Welfare Officer


24/11/2004 10:27 PM


To: <graeme.lewis@dpiwe.tas.gov.au>

"A Public Royal Commission into this whole industry is long overdue!"

It seems fairly clear that animals are being sent from Tasmania out of Portland in Victoria - the present advertisements are for cattle; Elders for Mexico and Roberts (we think) for China. Roberts was taken over by RuralCo and has a new CEO, John Mahon. It still seems to trade as Roberts.
I don't know that they would be allowing the possibility of protests bother them too much - historically, advocates were allowed to stop trucks entering the wharf for 30 seconds, but no so in 2006. Roberts was able to prevail upon the police, and Police Minister David Llewellyn, to put a stop to that (undue influence?).
Graeme Lewis is no longer with the RSPCA - he moved into a nice State government job when contractual arrangements changed, and the Inspectorate began reporting to RSPCA Tasmania instead of RSPCA Australia. RSPCA Tasmania has just lost two very senior Board members and its president over "matters of principle" (undisclosed) to do with the CEO.
A0814

Alex0814,
^
I am a person who volunteers.

Seems to me if you look up^ at the above post your friends already have enough to call on a Royal Commission.

I am aware there are some wonderful people working at the RSPCA.

However if the SRUCTURE was set out in the first place as a FRONT for the Government and Industry to cover up cruelty and allow farm animals to be treated inhumanly that “should” be your friends first port of call.

At least you wont have to look far to find Graham. If you trace many of them you will find similar I would suggest.

I respectfully put it to your that your friends won’t fix anything if the system set in place is in fact based on a LIE.

“ That would mean the Australian People have been mis informed and lied to.”

If RSPCA National employ CEOs through “Contracts” and the cars for CEOs and “Inspectors”- and also their holidays and travel under this arrangement then its crystal clear “it’s just another body of the Government”.

Yes they would have put somebody up as a buffer for Roberts but he will still be involved- [ You can bank on it]

They run the show like the old boys Nationals club.

They try to keep new names kicking about to take the embarrassment away from the Government and others a bit so the public wont think they are doing nothing.

‘There seems to be NO ACCOUNTABILTY by RSPCA National to ANYBODY as to WHOM they are accountably to??

As this is supposed to be a public NFP Charity I put it to you they ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

From what I can see they are only accountable to THEMSELVES at a few board meetings!

Come on now- Paid by way of CONTRACTS employed by RSPCA NATIONAL who
ARE funded by the GOVERNMENT – Right down to their salary cars and holidays??
CLOSED MEETINGS_ NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?

With SPECIAL arrangements with Two SPECIAL MINISTERS who report DIRECTLY back to JOHN HOWARD.

Really how INDERPENDANT IT THAT?