Federal election 2016: sledgehammer footage halts live exports

Australia has suspended live cattle exports to three Vietnamese abattoirs after the release of shocking images.

Australia has suspended live cattle exports to three Vietnamese abattoirs after the release of shocking images of cattle being beaten to death with sledgehammers.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said his depart­ment had launched an ­investigation immed­iately after receiving a complaint about the treatment of cattle in the abattoirs and had met with Vietnamese authorities, who were also probing the allegations.

“Anyone viewing this footage would be shocked and upset at the mistreatment and we are taking these reports very seriously,” Mr Joyce said. “The treatment is totally abhorrent and it is the very ­antithesis of the animal welfare standards the Australian government has been working towards.’’

The ABC yesterday aired footage of the cattle being beaten in Vietnamese slaughter­houses. The workers were secretly filmed by animal-rights activists. “I thought I’d seen it all and I haven’t,’’ Animals Australia campaign director Lyn White told the ABC.

The Australian Livestock Export­ers’ Council agreed to ­suspend the three abattoirs on Sunday after a complaint provided by the Agriculture Department.