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Wednesday May 23, 2012

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Prioritise the real cruelty issue

Posted by: Peter Maher | 6 July, 2011 - 5:24 PM
cow

Nico Botha, who is a cattle farmer in Western Australia, attempted a publicity stunt yesterday that was both demeaning and insulting to all farmers in this country.

Botha said that he was about to shoot dead 3,000 of his cattle herd because he no longer could afford to feed his stock due to live cattle exports to Indonesia being banned by the Federal Government.

Nico Botha and Tony Abbott both blame Julia Gillard for Nico Botha's plight.

The fact is that it is not Julia Gillard's fault that cattle were being treated in transit to these abattoirs in Indonesia in a manner that was totally unacceptable.

We are not a barbaric country - we do not treat animals cruelly for either pleasure of for profit. And in particular our farmers do not hold their animals out for ransom like Nico Botha did yesterday.

We have seen enough of our stock euthanized because of no feed due to drought or other natural disasters that Mother Nature can inflict. No farmer ever wants to see one of their stock ill-treated irrespective of how much money involved in the transaction.

This whole debacle has got nothing to do with live cattle exports it is animal cruelty, that's it – animal cruelty. Are we happy for our animals to be treated in this appalling money for profit and of course the answer is no.

This is not the fault of government it is the fault of the industry that they have allowed this deplorable situation to get to where it is today.

This is the reason you have industry associations and why you pay them levies on sales to make sure these disruptions do not occur.

Indonesia has now banned all live imports of cattle and they can ban oxygen as well for all I care because they do not determine what is cruel and what is not cruel in this country.

The most important decision now is that live exports can recommence on our terms – not on the terms of those who have no respect for animal health.

Blog comments Your Say

  • As for Nico Botha, why don't you people do a google search on him, he can not shot teh cattle as the Police in WA took his firearms from him when he waved them at some Aboriginals adn shot their dogs on another station he owns....he is a goose!

    Mick Sunday 17 July, 2011 - 4:57 PM

  • This treatment of our cattle is disgusting , I am a deer hunter and have shot a number of deer over the years with a clean kill from a high powered rifle . If any animal should be taken it should always be done quick and clean if not it shouldn't be done . What is wrong with this disspicable race of people. I am from a farm , bought up on the land and have respect for our animals . These people clearly don't I hope they rot in hell and never cross my path .

    Dean fry Monday 11 July, 2011 - 7:01 PM

  • If the cattle farmers were not so greedy maybe we could sell more beef and lamb here at a lower price.
    We would not have to export to Indonesia. We could find more buyers in this country and try to find buyers somewhere else who are willing to buy our meat frozen.

    Peggy Friday 8 July, 2011 - 8:55 AM

  • Makes no sense, but then nothing this government does make any sense. Just another Juliar stuff up.

    Tim Friday 8 July, 2011 - 8:25 AM

  • Mr Nico Botha , you've had your 15 minutes of fame and it only took you 10 seconds to show the entire world that you're really not qualified to call yourself a human being . Not to worry , we already know .

    Not a very well thought out plot either . Your ultimatum was ; allow me to send my cattle oversea's to be tortured every step of the way before suffering a gruesome death , or , I'll save them all that misery and put them down humanely at my inconvenience and without getting paid for them .

    Good one Nico , you are truly worthless !!

    Real Deal Friday 8 July, 2011 - 1:44 AM

  • So like some biblical miracle we are supposed to believe that in four short weeks us the "gullable Australian people"are expected to believe that all is satisfactory with the Live Export Trade......
    Sure..There will be no beatings,broken tails,High pressure hoses,throats hacked with blunt knives, Animals killed within the sight of other animals...
    We also believe in the tooth fairy AND Santa.
    Come on Julia,Why don,t you take an Indonesian Abattoir Tour!
    Sadly..Its obvious the whole industy still puts $$$ before animal welfare.

    David Pendry Thursday 7 July, 2011 - 9:46 PM

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