News & Media: Gippsland abattoir shut amid animal cruelty claims
Gippsland abattoir shut amid animal cruelty claims
A GIPPSLAND abattoir has been shut by state authorities following a shocking video of alleged animal cruelty.
PrimeSafe ordered the immediate closure of LE Giles abattoir in Trafalgar after a video of the alleged cruelty to pigs being processed in the facility was provided to them by Animals Australia.
It is understood the video shows abattoir workers sticking electric stun prods used to stun animals before they are slaughtered into the eyes and noses of the animals.
PrimeSafe chief executive Brian Casey told the Herald Sun it was his intention to close the abattoir permanently
“I am appalled by the treatment of animals shown in the video footage,” he said.
“The issue will be vigorously pursued by PrimeSafe, ensuring that any inhumane treatment of animals is eradicated.”
“I have advised the abattoir owners that it is my intention, immediately the investigation is concluded, to take action with a view to cancelling their PrimeSafe licence.”
Mr Casey said the order to cease operations was indefinite and would continue for as long as it takes for PrimeSafe to fully investigate all the matters raised in the video.
“Giles Abattoir is currently not permitted to slaughter livestock and so there is no on-going risk posed to the welfare of livestock at the facility, nor to public health,” he said.
Mr Casey said PrimeSafe was responsible for enforcing animal welfare standards in abattoirs and the Department of Primary Industries would be undertaking a separate investigation into whether animal cruelty laws had been breached.
Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes said people would be shocked by the cruelty but refused to release the video to the Herald Sun saying they had already made a deal to give it to another media outlet.
“I think we would expect this sort of thing only to happen in abittors overseas so it’s distressing that it’s happening in Australia,” she said.
Ms Oogies said the video was shot by a person associated with Animal Liberation Victoria who filmed at the facility with the permission and knowledge of the management.
She said the video raised serious concerns about the auditing of abattoirs in Victoria.
All Victorian abattoirs are required to be licensed with PrimeSafe and to have a quality assurance program that complies with the Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption.
The closure comes a day after the Herald Sun highlighted animal cruelty at sales yards in Victoria.
