WA; Further complaint about live exports made to WA police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2003
WA; Further complaint about live exports made to WA police

By Holly Nott

PERTH, Dec 23 AAP - An animal welfare group has made a second complaint to West Australian
police, claiming live sheep exports breached state laws.

Animals Australia last week delivered a dossier of information to Fremantle police
- the result of an eight-day investigation into sheep transported to the Middle East on
board the MV Al Kuwait.

The organisation's investigator, former South Australian policewoman Lyn White, said
she saw dead, dying, blind and sick sheep both on board the Al Kuwait and in Shuweikh
Port, Kuwait City.

Animals Australia claimed the conditions in which the 100,000 sheep were transported
to Kuwait City breached section 19-3a of WA's new Animal Welfare Act.

The section states a person in charge of an animal is cruel to an animal if it is transported
in a way that causes, or is likely to cause, unnecessary harm.

A second complaint made to Fremantle police yesterday alleged sheep were again being
loaded onto the Al Kuwait, placing the exporter and operators of the ship in breach of
the act.

"Every time a livestock vessel commences loading and then sails from Fremantle, our
view, which is supported by expert legal and veterinary opinions, is that these animals
are being transported in a way that is likely to cause unnecessary harm," Animals Australia
executive director Glenys Oogjes said.

Animal welfare groups have vowed to continue making complaints in relation to live
exports out of WA until the legality of the practice is resolved.

AAP hn/jv/br

KEYWORD: EXPORTS

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.