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Cash for cruelty claims over live export footage

Staff reporterThe West Australian
VideoMajor doubts have been thrown over leaked videos showing animal cruelty on live export ships coming out of WA. It's been revealed animal activists offered workers on ships huge payments for vision of dead and dying sheep.

Major doubts have been thrown over leaked videos showing cruelty and suffering inflicted on sheep on live export ships coming out of WA.

The West Australian has revealed today that animal activists offered workers on ships huge payments for vision that showed “dead or dying animals”.

The horrific vision, which was aired on 60 Minutes along with an interview with whistleblower Fazal Ullah in April last year, led to widespread outrage and the clamp down on the live export trade.

Emails obtained by The West Australian show that in response to the payment offers, some workers suggested cutting off ventilation or switching off the exhaust fan to distress sheep in order to receive the payments that were on offer from activist organisation, Animals Australia.

Animals Australia strongly discouraged them from doing so.

It was also revealed that Mr Ullah, who worked with Animals Australia, had previously been disciplined for allegedly beating cattle with a stick.

Animals Australia has previously stated it had not paid for the vision aired by 60 Minutes.

In response to questions, Animals Australia said Mr Ullah’s “indisputable evidence” was corroborated by other workers on the Awassi Express and “overwhelming evidence of suffering across five voyages” was accepted by industry associations and Government regulators.

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