No worries, PALE. In the wider scheme of things, Tasmania is "small fry", and I think even Roberts (CEO John Mahon) might have a few concerns about trying to get a ship out of her anytime soon after what has turned out to be the "Al Messilah" disaster.

Even using an enclosed ship - and such an old one at that - compounded the stupidity of ill and injured sheep being delivered to the feedlot, no AQIS vet looking at them for the first several days, then up to 50% of them not being in the feedlot for the mandated time. That information wasn't specified in the report, but I have been able to confirm it from other sources.

And the reality is we're talking about loading 71,309 sheep - it is physically impossible for all of them to be checked. Interestingly the report notes that the ship was fully loaded- but also that another 1600 or so were rejected - had they not been to ill to load would they have just loaded them on anyway and made the already appalling situation worse?

My feeling is that banner waving isn't going to "do it". In Tasmania it is easy to get to the government and to the media, and thus easy to embarass the government and Roberts. Both Roberts and Elders continue to advertise for cattle for export out of Victoria as well (some to Mexico (a Catholic country, for God's sake). Hitting the government continually with the scientific data appears to be getting through sufficiently to cause a certain discomfort. Kerry O'Brien is proving to be a surprising asset, and Dick Adams (MHR for Lyons) is a former meat worker. We also have excellent Greens aninmal welfare people, Nick McKim (their spokesperson) in particular.

By the way - you asked about halal establishments here. I wasn't exaggerating when I said Tasmania could not be accused of being progressive. It's a very small migrant population here and a smaller Muslim one, I suspect. Food from any other nationality/culture is not big here.
Regards
Alex

Alex
You are about the only normal decent person on OLO in regards to Animal Welfare.
Much of that info is helpful far beyond your understanding[ maybe]
Would you mind if I copied your posts to the PALE car park and the PALE defends Animals rights etc
We have some political jack ases trying to take the attetion away from the animals by personally attacking pale.
I am afriad our people are starting to now want to be abused anymore and your posts ae about live exports.
Of course if you would prefer I didnt thats ok too.
Thanks who ever you are and God bless you and your wonderful efforts to help the Animals.
Live Animal Exports is Australias Greatest Shame

Hi PALE
I've got no problem with that (at least, I don't think so! I don't suppose anyone can abuse me from Queensland, can they?) Who is the abuse coming from? Stuff I've read recently seems to be suggesting that Queensland is seeking to become a bigger player in live exports (it was cattle I read about). I think the "Deneb Prima" has been in and out of there and it's HUGE.

I've just send large information packages to the major politicians here, including copies of the CD footage, statistics and the mortality reports, and reiterated what Suzanne Cass (of Live Export Shame Tasmania) said in the story I posted from the "Mercury" - that charges SHOULD be laid against Roberts. Unfortunately it can't be done because of the statute of limitations, but if they do attempt another shipment from Devonport it might be a different story.

The police told us last time that it (Roberts) was carrying out a "lawful" activity - and now it turns out that it was indeed unlawful (Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act). As well, they breached Devonport City bylaws (trucks roaring through at night), but I couldn't get any action on that either.

None of that stops them sending animals interstate though.
Roberts the company and its livestock manager Christopher Taylor were each convicted on animal cruelty charges back in 2002, and it was reported to me that there was another conviction back in 1998, although I haven't been able to confirm that.
Regards
Alex

Alex.
Thanks for your reply
Here is the the thread aimed at making pale change its name- I might add it’s the second time in two years.
Its never been done on OLO before. Robert also started the same issue two years ago about the same thing. It would be great if you could put your comments up re live exports Alex to get the debate back on the animals. If I copy it all myself I might be banned

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=989

Below is our response after years of harassment / Please note nobody else uses their real names. You will find the thread childish and a bore.
That is because we are being ‘kept’ from posting on the real issue which is the animals.
I would like to speak to you about QLD live exports but dare not post it
My web page has my number if you care to call
www.livexports.com
Thanks for trying to help the animals! You seem to be the ONLY one other than pale.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=1022

Hi PALE
I didn't know what you meant by "Car Park" - that's all a bit incoherent and off (my) topic, I think!
For example, I have no interest in issues to do with separating parents, for one thing (in my experience, people have more to do with getting themselves into the predicaments they do than do animals, and certainly more control at getting themselves out of them, so they need less consideration).
Has some stuff been deleted or something? It's all impossible to make any sense of because it seems to be largely about people slagging off at each other! One point I did agree with - if you have more than one person making postings under the PALE name perhaps each person should identify themselves (under a nickname if they prefer) so that if they make inappropriate comment it does not thus discredit PALE, and then PALE is able to stick with the issues with which it is directly concerned and can develop credibility on that path.
Just some thoughts!
Regards
Alex

Alex
Thanks for taking your vaulable time to read that.
I do not think we are allowed to copy another persons post so it is up to you if you wish to put your info on the thread.
At least it will be read there.

Regarding your thoughts I happen to agree with you but we will not be changing a thing.

Yes there is a very good reason and its too long winded to get into now.
What I can tell you when it was tried that way a long time ago the same person opended a thread to complain.
This in return led to bad feelings all round so we had members rightfully defending their right to to post.

The rule was made then by OLO that myself Antje could post for pale.
Sometimes people write something on word doc and I posts it.

While this may not always follow through its taken a long time for the upset to settle.

If we raised it again it would only result in people being cross.

Regarding posts on other topics we dont tell people that they can only send us post on live exports.

We have to allow people to be themselves and respect them for what that want to do.

Also we do not trust the motives of the persom who opended the complaint thread.
After all you have to remember it was him who inisted it was done this way.
If we did did try to change back he might get us barred again.
To be honest we might even close pale because its effecting my health pluss two others We just wanted to help animals but we pretty fund self and work hard for not one cent but lets face it
What for. They have NOT allowed us to work for nearly two years.

Hope you follow that.