FEDERAL Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said on Monday night's news he was "horrified” at the deaths and footage of more than 2000 sheep cooked alive in the "live” animal trade on their way to the Middle East.

In fact, many in the community are keen to see the live animal trade banned.

Haven't we been down this path before and, once the hoo-ha has subsided, nothing happens until the next time?

Every one of these instances has been horrifying alright - and not just for the public.

What about the unfortunate animals left to die a slow, agonising death in the hold of some ship?

This is not just cruel, it is illegal and, in this particular case, the criminals are the owners and enablers of Emanuel Exports.

It has been suggested over and over these animals need to be butchered "humanely” on our own soil and the meat sent abroad.

Reducing the number of animals sent in one consignment is not the answer. They still suffer and die.

The "powerful farm lobby” needs to be taken around this ship of death and shown the results of its greed and hubris and perhaps even be made to clean the ship of dead animals, faeces and other detritus.

Of course, this would not occur, but what will stop this brutal and unnecessary trade?

Mr Littleproud needs to remain "horrified” and have the courage to take further this outrage, not merely hypothesise and hope it will go away.

CLAIRE JOLLIFFE

Buderim