Sloppy NSW Slaughterhouse Conditions Brings Back Memories of Abattoirs in Indonesia

The New South Wales (NSW) government is set to announce tougher standards for abattoirs in the state following the release of videos that showed pigs being hit on the head with metal poles as part of the slaughter process.

The videos bring to mind similar charges of animal abuse in Indonesia's abattoirs which led to the reduction of Australian beef exports to the southeast Asian nation.

The damning video was shot at the Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors at Wilberforce. It caused the suspension of the company in February 2012 for gross animal mistreatment. The video also showed wrong slaughter procedures for sheep, cattle and goats that went against food and animal cruelty regulations.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said the Hawkesbury video led to the imposition of a $5,200 fine on the company - which has resumed operations - and a state government review of domestic slaughterhouse operations.

Among the new regulations that will be implemented are the mandatory designation of an animal welfare officer in each abattoir to end the practice of beating fully conscious pigs before slaughter and jabbing cattle repeatedly with electric prods.

The slaughterhouses will pay for the animal welfare officer as well as require its staff to undergo mandatory animal welfare training. The welfare officer will oversee operations on the cutting floor and will have the power to stop operations if there is a breach, Ms Hodgkinson said.

Despite the reforms put in place by the NSW government, animal rights groups such as Animal Liberation dismissed the changes since it believes cruelty in Australian slaughterhouses is a common practice.

"These changes appear to be a smokescreen, especially if the new inspectors are going to be actually hired by the abattoir themselves. There's unlikely to be any sort of major changes that occur because of this," ABC quoted Animal Liberation representative Emma Hurst.

Ms Hurst questioned the rejection by the NSW government to use CCTV cameras to monitor the slaughter procedures at the state abattoirs.

"We can't guarantee that that one officer will be able to see all acts of cruelty within that abattoir, whereas the cameras will catch everything and workers will know that they're constantly being watched," Ms Hurst argued.

The NSW government insisted that a change in slaughterhouse culture and not CCTVs will reduce animal cruelty.

The appointment of an animal welfare officer takes effect Jan 1, 2013, while the mandatory training in stunning, sticking and shackling of animals to be slaughtered would begin by July 1, 2013.

To ensure compliance with these reforms, Ms Hodgkinson said NSW Food Authority will hold spot checks, while the state will enforce yearly audits on compliance by the slaughterhouses with animal welfare laws and will craft a sanctions policy for violators.