Online petition calling for the live export ban to be lifted

June 24th, 2011

Please take a few seconds to sign the online petition calling on the Federal Government to lift the ban on Australia’s live export trade, so live exports to Indonesia can resume immediately.  It’s vital that live exports resume as soon as possible – ironically, because of the catastrophic animal welfare and environmental issues caused by […]

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Another farmer’s comment on conservation – at Mission Beach (NQ)

June 21st, 2011

Here’s a classic comment on farmers and conservation, written by Mission Beach farmer, Maurice Franklin. A must-read for anyone who thinks farmers don’t care for the environment and that the natural environment and farming can’t co-exist.  And the recent residential development around Mission Beach should give everyone cause for serious thought.  Queensland’s wet tropics region is only a tiny […]

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Classic modern hypocrisy – palm oil instead of products from farmed animals

June 21st, 2011

I bought some lemon myrtle soap the other day.   At home I noticed ‘Contains NO Animal Products’ written on the side of the box, along with ‘delights and vitalises’ and ‘natural freshness’, amongst the pretty symbols.  A closer inspection was required.  The spiel on the back described the lemon myrtle tree as being a Queensland rainforest species that […]

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Animal rights organisations – why are there so many splinter groups?

June 21st, 2011

Why are there so many animal rights organisation instead of just one or two large groups?  Just here in Australia we have the main national organisations:   Animals Australia, PETA, Animal Liberation, RSPCA,Voiceless and Act Now For Animals (ANFA).  There are dozens of local groups and hundreds in Europe and North America.   They’re pushing for a […]

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A vet’s perspective on the affects of a live export ban

June 20th, 2011

Another very well considered letter – from a vet: LIVE CATTLE EXPORT – THE BIG PICTURE The issues surrounding Australian live cattle export and appalling cruelty to cattle in some Indonesian slaughterhouses have been very disturbing to all Australians.  As a veterinarian with animal welfare, meat processing and exotic disease experience, with no vested interest in […]

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Banning live exports and meatworks in northern Australia

June 18th, 2011

During the 1970s beef crash in northern Australia, there was no money to employ staff, muster, wean and truck cattle as sale prices were at rock bottom.   Many beef producers simply went broke.  Others hung on by the skin of their teeth with increasingly large debts.  They had no option but to leave cattle to die in overgrazed paddocks at […]

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Rural producers from southern regions, making ill-informed judgements regarding Australia’s live export trade

June 16th, 2011

It’s exasperating to find southern producers who have posted online comments supporting the blanket ban on live exports because a) I haven’t come across a single one whose comments demonstrate any understanding of agriculture outside their own specific region and b) they’ve played right into the hands of animal rights extremists – apparently oblivious to the fact that […]

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Farmer-bashing turning into a national sport

June 15th, 2011

Poking around various websites, forums and blogs it has become apparent that there’s a noticeable difference between those making comments in support of banning live exports, and those in favour of fixing the problems and resuming the live export trade as soon as possible. Generally speaking, people making online comments in support of Australia’s live […]

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Australians Supporting Beef Farmers (ASBF) – brand new website now online

June 14th, 2011

The ‘Australians Supporting Beef Farmers’ (ASBF) brand new website is online today.  The aim of the website is to provide objective industry facts and a united voice for Australian cattle farmers, especially those in the north who are directly or indirectly involved in the live export trade, as well as people indirectly involved (from truck drivers and mustering chopper […]

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Amazing Race Australia – who is most likely to win, surfers or ‘farmers’?

June 14th, 2011

I’ve never watched a reality TV series before so don’t know what sort of person usually wins these contests.  Because there’s two people from outback Australia involved in the first series of Amazing Race Australia and I know many of the Warriner family, I had to watch.  And barring unforeseen bad luck or events completely out of their […]

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