Activists chain themselves to Victorian abattoir

Seven vegan activists have been arrested following a graphic stunt at a Victorian abattoir, where they chained themselves to metal railings.

At about 4am. on Thursday morning as many as 30 protesters from the Farm Transparency Project broke into the Benalla abattoir in the state’s north in order to prevent what they said was the “agonising” death of pigs after their paralysis in a carbon dioxide gas chamber.

Activists inside the Benalla abattoir on Thursday morning. Farm Transparency Project / Facebook. Credit: Supplied

Victoria Police said three men and four woman between the ages of 23 and 53, from Melbourne, NSW and Tasmania, have been charged with trespassing offences, and were bailed to appear in the Benalla Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

A post on the Farm Transparency Project’s Facebook page said the group’s director Chris Delforce had locked himself inside a gondola where pigs are lowered into prior to their carbon dioxide stunning.

“Those involved have said they are willing to stay for as long as possible to draw attention to this issue and push for a total ban on gas chambers,” the post said.

An activist told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Thursday morning that the group wanted an investigation into the use of gas chambers.

Activists say they want an inquiry into the use of carbon dioxide stunning. Farm Transparency Project / Facebook. Credit: Supplied

“We put our bodies directly in the path of the machines to try and stop the killing,” the protester said.

“They’re said to be industry’s most humane way to slaughter pigs and it’s not humane. You just need to see the footage to know it’s not humane.”

In a statement, the Australian Meat Industry Council said they were aware of a “serious instance of trespass.”

“AMIC believes that legitimate and law-abiding businesses should have the right to conduct their operations safely and without their rights being violated,” they said in a statement.

“Trespassing at any livestock facility is inherently dangerous and poses significant biosecurity, animal, and human safety risks that AMIC cannot condone for any reason,” they said.

“AMIC and our membership are committed to proper, stringent, and accountable animal welfare practices across the supply chain.”

AMIC said they remained “steadfast” in their policy that ant breaches of animal welfare standards should be reported to police or the RSPCA as a “matter of urgency.”

According to the RSPCA, carbon dioxide stunning is a legal requirement prior to slaughter in Australia, and is intended to cause unconsciousness so that their death can be carried out without pain, fear, or stress.

“Stunning with CO2 gas offers benefits over electrical stunning including the ability to stun animals in groups, with minimal restraint, less handling, and therefore potentially less stress before stunning,” the RSPCA said on its website.

The office Gayle Tierney, Minister for Agriculture in the Victorian government, was contacted for comment.