In the latest update, I acted on emotion and did not read the report correctly. Yes the ships are anchored off the coast, with NO livestock on them. It has taught me a lesson, not to post until I've read the report Twice. Please accept my apology for misleading people. On a brighter note, Andrea one of our beautiful supporters received this reply from Senator Josh Wilson. So if anyone lives near Fremantle WA, (I know a few do) and you can make it to this event, please take notes and photos and email them to me, "please". No more updates now until after next weeks letters go out. You need a break as do I. Enjoy the long weekend. Dear Andrea, Thank you for your email – and I believe that live export should be phased out in favour of humane practices that deliver, first and foremost, an appropriate level of animal welfare protection. This long-awaited shift will also create more jobs through an expanded chilled meat trade with more stability and a higher value-added product for farmers. Fremantle is a community that lives with the confronting reality of live export. I support the long-held view of the community I represent, and I agree with animal welfare advocates who argue that animals are simply not long-distance freight. We have seen countless incidents that show live export is incompatible with animal welfare. As long ago as 1985, the Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare said that the live export trade is “inimical to good animal welfare”, and since that time attempts to improve regulation of the industry have not stopped a stream of terrible and cruel incidents. In many cases we only learn of these episodes through the unstinting work of animal welfare advocates like Stop Live Export and Animals Australia. It is heartening to know that even those involved in the trade believe it must inevitably end (see here). Last week I was pleased to meet with Katrina Love, campaign manager of Stop Live Exports here in WA, and I will be at the 6th annual Humane Chain event in Fremantle on 9 October, which is World Animal Day. I encourage you to be there if you can. Kind regards, Josh Wilson MP | Federal Member for Fremantle Electorate: 62 Wray Avenue, Fremantle, WA 6160 | TEL: 08 9335 8555 Canberra: Suite R2.113 | TEL: 02 6277 2081 Postal: PO Box 1224 Fremantle WA 6959 Email: josh.wilson.mp@aph.gov.au Web: www.joshwilson.org.au josh4fremantle