Professional Documents
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J o e L u d w i g
M E D I A R E L E A S E
This evening the Four Corners program aired evidence of animal welfare mistreatment in
Indonesian facilities.
I was shocked by the footage and the treatment of the animals involved.
Further, I have asked the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer to coordinate an independent,
scientific assessment of the on-going appropriateness of both the Mark I and Mark IV
restraint boxes.
Finally, I have requested a thorough briefing on all of the legislative and regulatory
responses available to me for responding to evidence of animal mistreatment, including
the banning of trade to specific facilities or destinations.
I asked industry at the beginning of this year for proposals on how welfare outcomes could
be improved, particularly after animals arrive in importing countries. I am currently
considering these proposals. It is clear that industry reforms to animal welfare standards
have not gone far enough or been fast enough and much more needs to be done.