Secord calls for shechita support

THE NSW Government will continue to adhere to national guidelines for ritual slaughter, but has not pledged open support for the practice.

The comment, which came from a spokesperson for Premier Barry O’Farrell, followed Labor MP Walt Secord’s call for O’Farrell and the NSW Government to make a public commitment to shechita last week.

“Last month, the Netherlands moved against the practice and last December, in New Zealand, the government attempted to ban it. Just last week, animal rights lobbyists in Victoria advocated a ban,” Secord said.

He added that any ban would be discriminatory, unfair and intolerant. “Kosher slaughter has been occurring in NSW since the mid-19th century and it must continue.”

But the Premier’s office declined to offer explicit support for shechita.

“Ritual slaughter is permitted subject to nationally adopted guidelines to which NSW adheres,” the spokesperson said. “The NSW Government welcomes further advice and ongoing dialogue with the Kashrut Authority of NSW.”

Secord’s comments came after federal Member for Wentworth and Opposition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged the rights of religious communities to undertake ritual slaughter. However he warned the Jewish community to take every precaution when killing animals.

“I don’t think there will be a backlash [against shechita], but Islamic and Jewish slaughtermen are going to have to be alert to make sure their processes are quick, painless and humane,” Turnbull said at Bondi Mizrachi Synagogue last Tuesday night.

“Your kosher butcher and the people involved in the process should be alert, but not alarmed,” he said.

The issue of ritual slaughter has attracted media attention after some animal rights groups claimed the process was inhumane.

The Jewish community hit back last week though, outlining the care and strong ethics upon which shechita is based.

JOSHUA LEVI

Walt Secord (pictured) has called for NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell to support shechita.