Aussie Artists Join PETA & Pen Open Letter To PM Albanese To End All Live Animal Exports

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains graphic mentions of animal abuse and cruelty.

Numerous Aussie artists have joined forces with People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) and penned an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about ending the export of all live animals.

Adalita, Charm Of Finches, Frenzal Rhomb, Gena Rose Bruce, Great Gable, Hevenshe (the solo project of Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall), Meg Mac, Tash Sultana, Tex Perkins, DJ Tigerlily, and Tumbleweed have put the welfare of animals first in the open letter. 

Together with PETA, they are urging the Prime Minister to keep his promise to end the live export of sheep and all animals. 

The open letter reads:

"Dear Prime Minister: 

"As Australian live music exports, we wish to thank you for supporting Aussie musicians. Today, we're writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) about a very different type of export: live animal exports. This industry has made headlines, but unlike live music, no one is cheering - least of all the millions of animals sent overseas each year. 

"We join PETA in urging Labor to end this barbaric trade for all animals. 

"Over the years, many investigations have revealed rampant cruelty aboard live-export ships. Animals endure weeks in cramped, sweltering conditions. Many die of dehydration, starvation, or disease. Others are trampled to death or suffocate in their own waste. Sadly, their suffering doesn't end when the ship docks. Due to weak animal protection laws in some destination countries, individuals who survive the journey are often subjected to appalling abuse and slaughter methods that are illegal here. 

"In 2021, PETA Asia investigators visited seven randomly selected slaughterhouses in Indonesia (Australia's largest live-animal export market) and uncovered egregious animal abuse, including improper stunning and slaughter procedures. Clearly still conscious after being shot in the head, one steer was jabbed 64 times in the face and on his torso with a steel rod in an attempt to force him to stand so a worker could shoot him again. Workers also violently twisted his tail until it broke. 

"For some cows, stunning wasn't even attempted. Instead, they were only physically restrained before their throats were slit – a ghastly method of killing approved by the previous Australian government. Some of these slaughterhouses were even part of Australia's Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, supposedly designed to improve animal welfare. 

"Three out of four Australians oppose live-animal export – us included. We know first-hand what it's like to have the world watching. With New Zealand poised to end the live export of animals by sea in 2023, Australia – and the world - looks to Labor to end this archaic trade once and for all. 

"Please act with compassion and end all live exports now. 

"Yours faithfully,

"Aussie live music exports Adalita, Charm of Finches, Frenzal Rhomb, Gena Rose Bruce, Great Gable, Hevenshe, Meg Mac, Tash Sultana, Tex Perkins, DJ Tigerlily and Tumbleweed, on behalf of People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA)."