Illegal slaughterhouse

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The original 2019 footage shows sheep being brutally slaughtered without stunning, some of whom attempt to escape with their heads half removed, before the butchered meat is packed into a car and driven off the property; along with serious breaches of food hygiene and biosecurity. It was provided to Andy Meddick, Animal Justice Party MP for Western Victoria, after an anonymous source provided it to Aussie Farms.

Meddick made a formal complaint to Primesafe, the Statutory Authority that regulates the safety of meat, and is calling for the facility to be completely closed down and for those responsible to be prosecuted.

Meddick also says the release of this footage could not have come at a more crucial time, as it shows the importance of the work animal activists do, yet a parliamentary inquiry is being held in Victoria which could potentially increase penalties for whistleblowers.

In August 2020, new footage was released showing the facility is still operating exactly how it was before, with fully-conscious sheep taking up to 5 minutes to die after their throats are hacked at with a knife. Biosecurity and hygiene issues remain rampant.

In September 2020, Agriculture Victoria closed the case without laying any charges, inexplicably permitting the illegal facility to continue operating.

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While animals farmed for food are generally exempt from legal protection against cruelty, this is a clear case of criminal abuse, and yet Agriculture Victoria has refused to lay charges or prevent the facility from continuing to operate - an inevitable consequence of allowing the industry to regulate itself.

This inaction serves as an open invitation to illegally abuse animals without consequence, and could lead to the proliferation of such illegal facilities across the state.

Contact the Victorian Minister for Agriculture to demand action.

• Illegal slaughterhouse exposed

  Friday 2 Aug 2019 by Mitchell Clarke (Pakenham Gazette)

  An alleged illegal slaughterhouse operating in Kooweerup has been discovered, with footage emerging of reported animal cruelty.
• Sheep 'brutally' slaughtered in Vic shed

  Friday 2 Aug 2019 by Georgie Moore and Kaitlyn Offer (News.com.au)

  Distressing footage of sheep being slaughtered in a Victorian shed has sparked investigations into claims of animal cruelty.
• Probe into 'brutal' illegal abattoir after film shows cruel treatment

  Friday 2 Aug 2019 by AAP (The Age)

  An alleged illegal abattoir is being investigated following claims of sheep being slaughtered inhumanely.
• Probe into alleged illegal Victorian abattoir

  Friday 2 Aug 2019 by Lachlan Hastings (The Weekly Times)

  Victorian authorities are probing allegations of illegal livestock slaughter in South Gippsland.
• Video footage allegedly reveals animal cruelty at illegal abattoir near Melbourne

  Friday 2 Aug 2019 by Ben Knight (ABC)

  Agriculture Victoria is investigating an alleged illegal abattoir operating on the outskirts of Melbourne, after receiving graphic video of sheep being slaughtered without being stunned.
• Cruelty, biohazard concerns raised over backyard slaughterhouse

  Sunday 9 Aug 2020 by Erin Pearson (The Age)

  A backyard slaughterhouse operating on the outskirts of Melbourne has sparked fears of cruel practices and potential COVID-19 outbreak after undercover footage surfaced of sheep being butchered inside a garage.
• No charges over backyard slaughterhouse in Koo Wee Rup

  Sunday 27 Sep 2020 by Erin Pearson (The Sydney Morning Herald)

  No charges will be laid against the operators of a backyard slaughterhouse at Koo Wee Rup after the Agriculture Department closed its investigation into reports of cruelty and biohazard breaches.

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