FED:Workers paid to abuse cattle, Lib senator

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2011
FED:Workers paid to abuse cattle, Lib senator

Head of the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association Luke Bowen says there may be
some truth to claims that Animals Australia paid Indonesian meat workers to abuse cattle.

Mr Bowen, while observing the loading of the first post-ban shipment of cattle bound
for Indonesia, said the industry had known for some time that meat workers had been paid
to allow Animals Australia into the abattoirs.

He said the latest allegations had only just emerged.

"It sounds like there may be some truth in it," he said in Darwin on Wednesday.

"I've heard second hand that there are signed affidavits from the fellas in Indonesia
saying they were paid to actually kick and abuse those animals."

Mr Bowen said Australians needed to be mindful that many animal advocacy groups had
broader agendas in mind.

"For some of these animal lib (liberation) groups, this is just a convenient vehicle
as a general sort of attack on livestock industries," he said.

"If it is true, it is outrageous.

"If it is true, it is actually shameful."

"A lot of these groups believe eating meat and wearing leather is exploitation of animals
and they want to see (the livestock industry) gone."

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KEYWORD: CATTLE 3 CANBERRA

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