Northern Victoria Region
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (14:07): (526) My constituency question is for the Minister for Agriculture. On Monday afternoon a B-double truck taking sheep to slaughter in Kyneton rolled over just minutes down the road from the home I share with my own rescued sheep. Dozens of sheep were painfully crushed, and others were flung out of the top of the truck, running around the road injured and confused. A small number were put into a paddock, still deemed suitable for slaughter and consumption. Others were killed with a bolt gun on the side of the road, including those with minor treatable injuries. Experienced animal rescuers were removed by police for showing compassion, and the department of agriculture denied them the rescue of savable sheep. My constituents want to know if there will be an investigation into this event, specifically the handling of injured sheep, and more broadly what protections are in place for animals on live road transport.