The Greens are continuing to exert mounting pressure on the live animal export industry, with the party now rallying for a “faster transition” to the processing of meat locally.

Though noting a prohibition on live exports would be a major economic detriment for the sector, Tony Mahar, CEO of the National Farmers’ Federation, agrees violations of animal welfare are abhorrent.

“What we’ve seen is extremely distressing, concerning and frankly unacceptable,” he says.

“Farmers won’t stand for this sort of treatment for the animals we care for. We just can’t have it. We have to take clear, tangible steps to get across that this won’t be tolerated.”

Mr Mahar also addressed calls for the appointment of an independent inspector to oversee the export of animals, voicing concern with the proposal.

“Our issue is that if we task another regulator to sit in an office in Canberra and oversee another regulator, is it just another layer of bureaucracy.”

The farming community is also pushing against calls for Australia to pass over live export responsibilities to our international competitors.

“If Australia does vacate the market, it will be filled by countries that don’t have anywhere near the standards we have.”

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