Alan Cumming to PM Albanese: End Live Export Now!

Posted on 12 January 2023 at 1:23PM by PETA Australia

As his long-awaited Australian cabaret tour gets underway, Tony Award–winning actor Alan Cumming OBE has penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging the Australian government to take action on the live export trade.

“I’m fortunate enough to be visiting Australia once again, but I’m shocked and saddened that this cruel and polluting industry continues to mar your beautiful nation’s international record and reputation,” writes Cumming in the letter. “The disgusting conditions aboard live-export ships are well documented. Animals endure gruelling journeys thigh-deep in their own excrement, suffering from heat exhaustion, rough waters, starvation, thirst, illness, and injuries.”

Australia still doesn’t have a plan for ending live exports

Millions of cows, sheep, and other animals depart Australia on live-export ships every year. They’re forced to live on top of one another in a slurry of faeces, urine, and water. Seasick and unaccustomed to the pellets they’re given as food, many starve to death before reaching their destination.

And the suffering doesn’t end for those who survive the journey. Because virtually no laws protect animals in the countries they’re sold to, they’re often subjected to abuse and methods of slaughter that are illegal in Australia.

After decades of investigations and attempted regulation, the incoming Australian government announced during the campaign season that it would ban live-sheep exports. This was welcome news, but it’s now been more than six months since the election and no updates on a ban have been issued.

The government hasn’t committed to a timeline, stating only that a ban won’t be implemented within its first term of government. As Alan points out in his letter, a second term of government is “never guaranteed”.

Join Alan – write to the government and demand a ban!

A series of Australian governments have squandered time, taxpayer money, and animals’ lives by condoning a merciless, mercenary industry that Australians have long known must end.

Please call on federal Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt to commit to a timeline for banning all live exports within this term of government.