Australian sheep suffer in Jordan abattoir, government investigates

Australian authorities are investigating severe animal cruelty at a slaughterhouse in Jordan involving sheep exported from Australia.

Shocking video footage shows Australian sheep having their throats cut, then being dragged and moved while still alive.

The sheep were killed in June at a slaughterhouse owned by Hijazi and Ghosheh, one of the biggest meat processing companies in Jordan and a major player in the Middle East’s livestock trade. It’s the second time the slaughterhouse has broken animal welfare rules.

Hijazi and Ghosheh also owns Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), a live animal export company based in Australia. The Australian government has investigated six breaches of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) involving LSS.

Despite these repeated problems, both companies, the shipping organization and the slaughterhouse, continue to operate in the live export industry.

Critics argue that this case highlights significant flaws in Australia’s animal welfare system. Especially when exporters and foreign slaughterhouses are owned by the same parent company, in this case, Hijazi and Ghosheh.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture is now investigating the matter. The government’s animal welfare watchdog, Katherine Clift, is preparing a report.

ESCAS rules were created to protect animals after past scandals. But many animal rights groups say the system doesn’t work. Exporters are allowed to monitor their own supply chains, which can lead to abuse and cover-ups.

Animal welfare group Animals Australia sent the new video footage to the government. Whistleblowers, including vets working in export slaughterhouses, have also reported animal suffering. Some say they can’t speak up without risking their jobs.

Australia has promised to ban all live sheep exports by 2028. But until then, thousands of animals are still being sent overseas.