Footage has emerged showing inexcusable behaviour by staff at Riverside Meats in Echuca, according to Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford.
Victoria’s meat and seafood regulator, PrimeSafe, took immediate action after receiving a complaint.
PrimeSafe identified breaches of the mandatory welfare standards and has imposed sanctions on the abattoir and directed them to make modifications to infrastructure, equipment and procedures, and retrain staff.
Weekly audits have been ordered until Riverside Meats can demonstrate compliance with Australian standards.
“I remain concerned by the nature and seriousness of these allegations. If laws have been broken those responsible should be properly held to account,” Ms Pulford said.
“That’s why I asked the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Charles Milne, to lead an additional investigation by Agriculture Victoria to identify whether any breaches of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 have occurred and if so, to determine what further action should be taken to hold those responsible to account.
“Victorians will not stand for such deliberate cruelty to animals and neither will the Labor Government.”
