• Animal protection organisation Farm Transparency Project has released footage captured inside seven QLD slaughterhouses over a six-week period in August-September 2024. 
• The footage, obtained through the use of covert cameras installed by the group, shows multiple breaches of state and federal animal welfare legislation, including ineffective stunning, abusive handling of animals, and animals being slaughtered while conscious and aware. At one facility, a sheep is stabbed multiple times and decapitated while still conscious, while pigs are seen drowning in the scalding tank. 
• Farm Transparency Project is calling for the immediate closure of all seven facilities, which have been reported to the state regulators for illegal, dangerous activity and animal cruelty.

The Queensland animal slaughter industry is under fire as animal rights group, Farm Transparency Project (FTP), releases footage obtained late last year during covert investigations into seven slaughterhouses. 

The footage was captured by hidden cameras, installed by the group while trespassing at facilities across a six-week period. FTP has spent the last several months carefully reviewing the footage and documenting each breach of animal welfare regulations and instance of animal abuse. All seven of the facilities have been formally reported to state regulators, Biosecurity QLD and Safe Food QLD, and the state's Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett MP. FTP is now assisting Biosecurity QLD in its own investigation. 

The slaughterhouses investigated include Steve's Country Kills in Chinchilla, which in 2023 was awarded processor of the year by the Australian Meat Industry Council and the Queensland Country Meat Processors Association. Also investigated were Millmerran Meats in Millmerran and Carey Bros in Yangan, both of which were awarded state government grants in 2020 to upgrade their facilities; Brisbane Valley Meats in Esk; roadside butcher and slaughterhouse, Maclagan Meats; Crows Nest slaughterhouse; and major export-accredited cattle slaughterhouse, Greenmountain Food Processing. 

At all seven of the facilities investigated, evidence of animal suffering, cruel and illegal practices has been captured, as well as the terror, distress and suffering of thousands of animals. At the Carey Bros facility, animals are kicked and thrown in the holding pens, a live, conscious sheep is seen being stabbed twice and then decapitated by a frustrated worker, conscious pigs are seen drowning in a tank of scalding water, conscious cows are dragged by their necks into the knockbox, and ineffective stunning results in numerous animals exhibiting signs of consciousness when their throats are cut. Similarly at the Crows Nest facility, many animals are clearly conscious and susceptible to pain at the point of slaughter. 

This investigation mirrors one conducted by Farm Transparency Project in 2023 where their investigations into five Tasmanian slaughterhouses contributed to an early election, and led to commitments from the state government including the introduction of mandatory CCTV in all slaughtering facilities statewide.

Strategy and Campaigns Director of Farm Transparency Project, Harley McDonald-Eckersall says that, "(in Tasmania) we demonstrated that it was truly a broken system with little regulation or oversight; we intend to do the same in Queensland." 

"The reality is, animals is slaughterhouses have little to no legal protection, meaning that the worst suffering and abuse is not only commonplace, it's the standard. Over the past two years, we have investigated 30 Australian slaughterhouses across Australia, from some of the biggest and most industrial to small, local operations, known and trusted by their communities. At every single one we have found, not only illegal and sickening behaviour by workers, but a systemic culture of casual cruelty and violence. For decades, Australian's have been fed a myth of humane slaughter. We want Queenslanders to have the opportunity to make up their own mind about whether conscious pigs, struggling to draw breath and drowning in their own blood, or terrified cows, attempting to leap free of a knockbox, where they will be shot in the head, sometimes multiple times, is truly something they want to pay for."

"The QLD government needs to take accountability for the animals being brutally killed in their state. We're tired of hearing that government's care about animal welfare, then turning around and paying for the worst kind of suffering to continue and increase. If they truly care about animal welfare, they need to put their money where their mouth is and invest in transitioning a dying industry of violence and bloodshed into the future."