Three lambs handed over to vegan protesters at Queensland abattoir

Three lambs have been handed over to activists at an abattoir in Queensland after they refused to leave the property.

A Queensland abattoir has handed over three lambs, after about 20 vegans arrived this morning with demands.

Protesters chained themselves to equipment on the kill floor at Carey Bros Abattoir in the Southern Downs region about 3.30am — saying they would only leave if the animals were surrendered to them.

An agreement was made about two hours later, and the lambs were loaded into the car after one protester was allowed in to collect them.

“It’s part of a negotiation that’s gone on … There were people locked in to actually stop them being able to process slaughters this morning,” activist Brad King told Channel 7.

The animals are now understood to go to Farm Animal Rescue, where they will be quarantined.

The lambs are now understood to be in quarantine. Picture: Channel 7

It comes as police have arrested nine people at an abattoir in the NSW Southern Tablelands as part of a major nationwide vegan protest.

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with animal rights slogans, the group chained themselves to a conveyor at the premises before refusing to leave about 2.30am, according to police.

Cops arrived about 90 minutes later and cut them free before arresting them with three women carried out after refusing to walk.

Three men, one aged 46 and two aged 22, and six women, aged between 21 and 61, were taken to Goulburn police station and have all been charged with entering inclosed lands, interfering with conduct of business and hindering police.

Animal rights group Lost Earthlings — which live-streamed the protest on Facebook — said the activists refused to move until their demands were met.

“Activists are currently inside Goulburn slaughterhouse preventing the brutal slaughter of animals, as part of co-ordinated actions across the country to draw attention to the inherent cruelty of animal agriculture and to call for industry transparency,” the group posted.

“Businesses that engage in animal abuse should not be able to do so in secrecy — consumers have a right to know what they’re paying for.”

“We’ve been discovered by the workers now, we’ve told them to contact police as we’re not leaving until our demands are met,” one woman is heard saying in the Goulburn abattoir.

“We’re here to stop the slaughter of innocent animals and to enforce them to bring about transparency across the industry.”

Nine people have now been arrested. Picture: Facebook

Police were called to the scene early this morning. Picture: Facebook

The protest was part of a national day of organised vegan activism which is being touted as the “biggest animal rights protest the world has ever seen”.

As part of the activism, Melbourne’s busiest intersection has been completely blocked off by vegans conducting a “peaceful” peak-hour protest.

Hundreds of vegans from all over Victoria gathered at 5.30am outside Flinders Street Station holding signs and blocking cars and trams from passing through.

This morning, police have broken up a protest at a Queensland abattoir.

About 20 animal rights campaigners descended on the Warwick abattoir and chained themselves to equipment before police were called to remove them.

Meanwhile in Sydney, about a dozen people dressed in black walked from Hyde Park to Martin Place on Monday morning as part of the co-ordinated national protest. The small group was escorted by police on their march.

Animal rights protesters march through the business district in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Protest spokesman Isy Veira said they are calling on state and federal agriculture ministers to listen to several demands, including adding an animal cruelty documentary to the school curriculum for kids over 15.

Despite the small numbers at the protest, Ms Veira was happy with the turnout. “We’ve got riot police following us around so we’re obviously shaking things up a bit,” she told AAP.

“I think that protest and direct action and animal rights activism will continue until the demands in the statement are met.

“They aren’t unreasonable demands, we’re just asking for transparency and compassion.”