I PERSONALLY had several reactions to the most recent actions, and reactions, stemming from the latest Animals Australia video footage from Riverside Meats abattoir in Echuca.
Whether you agree or disagree, why is it that this organisation seems to be the only monitor of practices in our abattoirs?
A more disturbing side of this is the fact that they manage to place hidden cameras in abattoirs. How good is the security and what would, or could happen to them if they happened to be injured while undergoing their clandestine operations?
Don’t get me wrong, I have not seen this footage, and it is not up to me to be judge or jury on this matter, and i bear no judgment here.
However, what disturbs me the most is the process that follows once this footage has been released.
As I understand it, in this case, there have been some sanctions on the workers involved, and ongoing investigation into the management of animals, and their handling. Until this process has been complete, Riverside Meats is allowed to continue operating.
You may wonder why I care about the process, but it stems from previous actions, stemming from a very similar incident some five years ago, concerning the Giles abattoir at Trafalgar.
For those who don’t remember, Animals Australia released video footage taken at the Trafalgar abattoir, and this created a kneejerk reaction that caused the immediate closure of this processing plant.
As far as I know the law in the this country is still “innocent until proven guilty”. However, in the case of Trafalgar abattoir, it was guilty until proved innocent. But, there was never a chance to prove any innocence.
In my opinion, this was a gross miscarriage of justice. I know there was footage of “animal cruelty”, but there was never a chance to prove otherwise.
Just last week I attended a memorial service for Ray Giles, who had a stroke not long after all of the actions taken by PrimeSafe.
How can this incident, five years ago, be so badly handled, when an incident of a similar nature, at Echuca, allows them to continue to work? Mind you, I fully believe that this is the way the system should work.
No animal deserves to be treated badly, but there must be a fair and just system, which is used across the board.
