Protesters assembled in large numbers outside Parliament House on Saturday, demanding an end to live cattle exports.

The backlash followed a report on animal cruelty in Australia’s export markets, which was broadcasted Tuesday on the ABC’s “7.30 Report.”

Lyn White, the chief investigator of Animals Australia, said that watching the video footage gave her the “worst kind of deja vu.” In 2011, White had compelled the Gillard government to temporarily suspend live cattle export by exposing the conditions in some Indonesian slaughterhouses.

The most recent video footage aired on the "7.30 Report" showed sheep sold for slaughter for the festival of Eid al-Adha -- the festival of sacrifice -- in an open market. This festival in the Middle East involves the live slaughter of animals and the feeding of the poor. Every year, Australia exports thousands of sheep for the festival. Some of the excerpts from the video footage also showed how the sheep are killed in highly unhygienic conditions.

The footage has compelled the Department of Agriculture to probe into the sale of large numbers of sheep during the festival to abattoirs other than the ones approved by the government. The Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System requires exporters of live cattle to ensure that the handling and slaughter of exported animals by the importing country abide by the terms outlined in the “animal welfare recommendations” by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, White blamed Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce for his delay in taking action against those who breached the law and compared it with his prompt response in the case of deporting Hollywood actor Johnny Depp’s dogs, Pistol and Boo.

Labor back-bencher Kevin Thomson and Greens Senator Adam Bandt have even called for criminal charges against a few exporters.

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