| 15 November,
2006
AACT CALLS
ON NEW ROBERTS CEO TO END LIVE EXPORTS
Protestors to ‘welcome’ new CEO
at Head Office tomorrow
Members of Against
Animal Cruelty Tasmanian will gather outside the Head Office of Roberts
Ltd tomorrow lunchtime (Thursday) as part of an ongoing campaign against
the live export of Tasmanian animals. The protest, which will take place
between 12.00noon and 1.00pm at Roberts Ltd Hobart office in Collins Street,
aims to encourage the new Managing Director of Roberts Ltd, John Maher,
to reconsider the company’s involvement in the live export industry.
AACT Coordinator
Yvette Watt said:
“We tried
in the past to meet with the previous Managing Director, Miles Hampton,
to discuss Roberts Ltd involvement in the live export trade but he refused.
We are hoping that Mr Maher, the new head, will be more open minded
and compassionate, and will not send Tasmanian animals on horrendous
journeys to brutal deaths in the Middle East. In recent years a shipment
of Tasmanian sheep has been sent from Devonport to the Middle East early
in the year. The most recent shipment of 71 000 sheep, which departed
Devonport in February this year, was the subject of the biggest dockside
live export protest ever seen in Tasmania. This protest, which resulted
in the arrests of 11 protestors, received national media coverage.
Ms Watt continued:
“We are
assuming that Roberts will continue the pattern of previous years and
will send another shipment in early 2007. We want to assure Mr Maher
that if a shipment does leave Tasmania he can expect more protests like
the one early this year. As long as Roberts continue their involvement
in this cruel trade we will be there protesting.”
It was recently
revealed that the voyage of the “Al Messilah” which left Devonport
in February this year was a “reportable voyage” because it
exceeded the “acceptable” mortality rate for the sheep on
board. According to a mortality report from an investigation conducted
by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, 1683 sheep died on the
marathon 27 day journey to Jebel Ali, Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha.
“As far
as we are concerned Roberts is profiting from animal cruelty. We call
upon Mr Maher to demonstrate a compassionate and progressive attitude
and end Roberts involvement in this barbaric trade.” concluded
Ms Watt.
For
more information: Yvette Watt, AACT Coordinator, tel: 0407 564 425
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