Coalition cuts animal welfare spending

The federal government has cut $5 million from animal welfare programs designed to monitor the live export trade.

Australian sheep being on-sold illegally in roadside sales in Jordan

The coalition has cut $5 million from animal welfare programs. (AAP)

The coalition has cut $5 million worth of former Labor government programs set up to monitor the welfare of live exported animals.

The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and the proposed animal welfare inspector general were scrapped in the government's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) released on Tuesday.

Advocacy group Animals Australia, which has been one of the loudest supporters of tougher checks on the industry, was also stripped of $100,000.

However, the government earmarked $60 million over 10 years to create a red meat and cattle partnership with Indonesia to boost trade and investment.

The animal welfare measures were put in place after media reports of cruelty in Indonesian abattoirs and alleged breaches of export regulations in the Middle East.


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Source: AAP


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