New footage has surfaced showing what activists allege to be more instances of animal cruelty at a Tasmanian abattoir in the state’s north.
Local Meat Co in Sheffield is the latest slaughterhouse to be targeted by the Farm Transparency Project (FTP) following the release of ‘horrifying’ videos reportedly captured at Tasmanian Quality Meats (TQM) late last year.
The Farm Transparency Project released additional images and videos on Tuesday that they say were captured by “investigators [who] illegally entered and installed cameras” at Local Meat Co in 2023.
The Local Meat Co has condemned the alleged mistreatment of animals shown in the footage and say they have ‘taken immediate actions’ to improve their facility and retrain staff.
“Over three months ago in early September, animal activists trespassed and illegally obtained footage of parts of our operations. We were only made aware of the footage in December,” a statement on their website reads.
“The Local Meat Co condemns all mistreatment of animals and the footage is unacceptable.”
“We took immediate and significant actions including upgrades and improvements to our facility, including welding bars around the chute to further protect sheep.”
“Two of the workers seen in the vision mishandling sheep were terminated. All remaining staff have been re-trained on their animal welfare obligations. We will not tolerate this behaviour and have introduced a one strike and you’re gone policy.”
But Harley McDonald-Eckersall from the Farm Transparency Project says the latest batch of footage is “part of a comprehensive investigation of five Tasmanian slaughterhouses” and warned that there is “more to come”.
“We installed cameras at the Local Meat Co for just two days. In that small amount of time, we documented some of the most brutal treatment of cows and sheep we have witnessed in recent years,” McDonald-Eckersall said.
“By allowing this slaughterhouse to continue operating in the face of this footage, the state government is sending a message that this kind of treatment of animals is ok and will lead to no ramifications.”
In December, Minister for Primary Industries Jo Palmer announced a new investigative taskforce would be set up to ensure the “highest standard of animal welfare” is upheld across the state’s livestock processing industry.
“We have acted to protect the local, national and international reputation of our vital red meat industry,” Palmer said last month.
“[We] will not tolerate any actions that tarnish the world-class reputation of Tasmania’s brand and its produce.”
Tasmanian Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff accused the government of “trying to hide” from the “deeply uncomfortable and cruel truth” and called on them to bring in regulated CCTV surveillance and monitoring.
“There is systemic cruelty in the abattoir industry – not just a few ‘bad apples’,” Woodruff said.
“The meat industry cannot pretend systemic slaughterhouse brutality is not happening, and neither can the government.”
