Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt, who with Cr Josh Wilson suggested the move, said yesterday that the live animal trade was cruel and should not continue in the 21st century.

A resolution accepted by the council's strategic and general services committee last week, calls for the live animal export trade to be phased out and replaced with chilled meat products. The resolution will go before the full council on May 26.

Mr Pettitt said live animal exports were cruel and the council needed to take a leadership role on the issue.

"Despite the best intentions and the best efforts from the industry, it's clear that animal welfare is often compromised," he said.

"In the 21st century, the live sheep trade is something that I think we need to be phasing away from. The idea that we just see this trade continuing indefinitely is not acceptable."

Unfortunately the WA government continues to support live export, in spite of the obvious cruelty involved. (From The West Australian, May 17)