Media Release

Calls by the RSPCA for Australia’s live cattle export trade to Vietnam to be banned are irresponsible in the extreme and have become far too politicised, KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said today.

TheRSPCA has reportedly called for the live cattle trade with Vietnam to be suspended following an investigation by Animals Australia showing inhumane treatment of cattle in a non-approved slaughter house in Vietnam.

But Mr Katter said today it was deeply regretful the RSPCA was becoming a more and more politicised institution that represented the old fashioned lefty brigade of the 1960’s.

“The RSPCA is one of the most important organisations in this country as we are a country that loves our animals.

“But the organisation that is supposed to protect our animals has instead become an organisation that hates humans, because if you have a serious look at most of their comments humans are always the bad guys.

“They could have handled this issue without going public but the reason they go public is to get their name in the paper.

“This sort of irresponsibility has done untold damage in the past; there is no doubt that a large number of the tragic cases that we’ve seen in the cattle industry can be sheeted home to the irresponsibility of the live cattle ban.

“And to cut off a vitally needed source of protein to our Asian neighbors is not only irresponsible but also immoral.

“Meat comprises a very small part of the diet of our poorer Asian neighbors, but it is their main source of protein, to take it away is outrageous,” Mr Katter said.

Comments by the Agricultural Minster today revealed that the Vietnam incident may have been self-reported by the cattle industry.

“If the Minister is saying that the industry advised of these incidents, then we would hope the Minister is also saying the problem has been addressed expeditiously,” Mr Katter said.