THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR HORSES
Dear fellow horse advocates,
We urgently need your voices!
Despite the clear recommendations from the Martin Inquiry, significant action has yet to be taken to improve the welfare of racehorses in Queensland.
The press plays a critical role in drawing attention to issues like these, and we need your help.
Please consider writing to local and national media outlets to highlight the failure to implement the necessary reforms.
Together, we can ensure that the welfare of these beautiful animals stays at the forefront of public concern.
P.S. We’ve provided an easy to copy and paste letter below!
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Date]
To:
[Editor/News Desk]
[Publication Name]
[Address or Email]
Subject: Four Years After the Martin Inquiry: Is Queensland Failing Its Racehorses?
Dear [Editor/Journalist’s Name],
In 2019, the ABC’s 7:30 Report shocked Australians with The Final Race, exposing the dark side of the racing industry—the mass slaughter of horses deemed “wastage.”
The footage was described by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as “deeply disturbing, horrendous… appalling.”
In response, the Queensland Government announced an urgent inquiry into the treatment of retired racehorses.
The Martin Inquiry, led by retired District Court Judge Terry Martin SC, revealed the unethical treatment of racehorses and made 55 recommendations aimed at improving animal welfare.
The Queensland Government accepted these recommendations in February 2020, including measures for tracking horses sent to slaughterhouses and greater transparency from abattoirs and knackeries.
Fast forward more than four years:
• The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) claims to have implemented Recommendation 7.1, which calls for public reporting on the fate of retired racehorses. Yet, multiple inquiries have confirmed that no such information has been published.
• The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) asserts compliance with Recommendation 6.4, requiring abattoirs and knackeries to record and submit details of horses processed for slaughter. However, a recent Right to Information request uncovered no evidence of these reports ever being submitted to the QRIC.
The public was promised reforms and transparency, but four and a half years later, there is no visible progress.
Why are these critical reports missing?
What is the real fate of Queensland’s racehorses?
This is not only an issue of animal welfare but also one of governmental accountability and transparency.
Queensland’s racing industry is still under the shadow of practices that horrified the nation, and the commitments made by the government to address these concerns remain unfulfilled.
The time has come for the Queensland Government to be held to account for its promises to protect these animals and uphold community expectations.
I urge the media to shine a light on this matter and push for the transparency the public deserves.
For further information including documentation please see:
meetourhorsemeat.com/martin-inquiry/
or to discuss this story in more detail, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Contact Information]
P.S. Worried that you won’t be able to handle questions if you are contacted by the press?
Don’t worry, simply direct any inquiries to us here.
From the bottom of our hearts…
#MOHM NEEDS YOUR HELP!
We’ve been threatened by those in the horse racing industry and those who benefit from horse slaughter more times than we can count.
But we are not going away.
We are going to persist until horse slaughter no longer exists for any purpose within Australia -- and until the horse racing industry makes drastic changes.
We are going to continue our hands-on work to offer lifelong sanctuary to as many horses as possible. We generally have 20 at just one of our locations - at any given time.
We have the acreage to take on more horses as financial support allows.
HELP HORSES: CONTACT QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT
THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR HORSESDear fellow horse advocates, Despite the clear recommendations from the Martin Inquiry, significant action has yet to be taken to improve the welfare of our horses. We must hold the Queensland government accountable for their...
MARTIN INQUIRY UPDATES
THE MARTIN INQUIRYWe have - of course - been looking for tangible results and improvements as a result of the Martin Inquiry into animal cruelty in the management of retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbred horses in Queensland. (Feb. 2020.) Sadly, there are precious...
Join us on social media and become a keyboard warrior.
