My God what level have we sunk to when Govt's accept cruelty as being acceptable so long as there is a dollar in it?

The Australian Govt puts the reputation of Australia at risk, no change that this Aust is showing the world that we are inhumane barbarians.

While we take a high moral stance on whaling, which should be utterly condemned when we continue to have atrocities to animals here.

We continually are assured that Australia has the highest animal-welfare standards in the world, but it took Animals Australia, undercover, to reveal the truth!

How can we ever believe MLA's or Tony Burke's assurances!

A state of the art facility built in this country would supply jobs and we could have some control over the handling of the animals.

By walking away and deserting the industry, we would have no say or right to demand improvements in animal rights in destination countries.

Having worked in the industry in the past I can assure that the standards are high and welfare of the animals is priority.

Often animals on the ship have a better chance at recieving treatment and care than those in the wild as they are under constant surveillance and care.

Sensational reporting, propaganda and industrial terrorism does nothing to improve animal welfare.

Co-operation, involvement and education is a more effective and responsible approach.

How can we follow such cruel heartless people.

The live trade is cruel and there is no excuse in the year 2008, unless of course we are still so very selfish and uncivilised.

Egypt is also a signatory to OIE standards and ignores them without sanction.

This government is even more disgraceful than Howard and McGauran.

SHAME on Rudd and Burke.

Egypt is without doubt among the most cruel countries on earth, and by sending them more animals we are encouraging eye stabbing, tendon and tail slashing of dying animals and butchery beyond belief.

Tony Burke and Kevin Rudd should hang their heads in shame.

Australia will never influence these countries and only started pretending to do so when all this was exposed by Animals Australia.

Animal "welfare" workers in these countries is simply animal abusers "training" worse animal absuers, and you can fit them all in a phone box.

I am embarassed to call myself an Australian while this hideous trade continues.

This is a result of the greedy cabal controlling successive archaic governments who are captives of this industry.

Let truth prevail to also expose the cruelty perpetrated on these animals even before loading.

40,000 dumped overboard last year - whilst people of other nations are starving.

These "empire building" savages and their cruel connections should be behind bars.

Unbelievable.