Benalla Abattoir

Across 2023 and 2024, our team documented and filmed conditions at 30 slaughterhouses across fjve states in Australia, the largest investigation into animal slaughter in the countries history. We exposed systemic suffering and abuse in over 10% of Australia's animal slaughter facilities, revealing the reality which is hidden by labels such as 'humane,' and 'high welfare.' Through thousands of hours of footage from hidden cameras, we showed that no animal goes to their death calmly or willingly; there is always pain, there is always fear and there is always suffering.  The mass slaughter of intelligent, sentient animals has no place within our... Act now >

Sunday 20 Oct 2024 by Bianca Hall (The Age)

The widespread use of “gas chambers” to render pigs unconscious before their slaughter is under a cloud. Read more >

Thursday 20 Jun 2024 by Mitch Clarke (Herald Sun)

Victoria’s pork industry could be slapped with “extreme” new guidelines and subject to random on-the-spot compliance checks, but Coalition MPs have called the inquiry process a “political stunt”. Read more >

Thursday 20 Jun 2024 by AAP (The Guardian)

State opposition says the inquiry’s 18 recommendations include ‘extreme restrictions’ that should concern all primary producers Read more >

Thursday 20 Jun 2024 by Peter Hunt (The Weekly Times)

Animal Justice Party, Green and Victorian Labor MPs have demanded radical animal welfare reforms, as part of a pig welfare inquiry. Read more >

Monday 4 Mar 2024 by Emma Field (ABC News)

The owner of a Victorian piggery has accepted responsibility for the breaches after an investigation was sparked by video of slaughter practices inside its facilities. Read more >

Monday 4 Mar 2024 by

We met Maisie in the holding pens at Benalla slaughterhouse. Out of the dozens of pigs and piglets crowded together in the mud and filth, Maisie stood out because of her distinctive markings, which looked like someone had drawn a line down her middle and painted one half pink and the other black. Over the course of three nights, we spent time with Maisie as she awaited a violent death. Read more >

Friday 1 Mar 2024 by Peter Hunt (The Weekly Times)

The court case against an abattoir in Melbourne’s southwest has concluded after animal activist footage led to charges arising from its handling of pigs. Read more >

Monday 11 Dec 2023 by Peter Hunt (The Weekly Times)

Animals Australia wants the Supreme Court to rule against gas stunning of pigs, which growers warn would push up pork prices. Read more >

Tuesday 5 Dec 2023 by Peter Hunt (The Weekly Times)

Animals Australia has launched legal action to stop pre-slaughter gassing of pigs, while politicians ram through a pig welfare inquiry. Read more >

Tuesday 31 Oct 2023 by Peter Hunt (The Weekly Times)

PrimeSafe has charged the Australian Food Group over its handling of pigs, following a Farm Transparency Project investigation. Read more >

Sunday 8 Oct 2023 by Alexi Demetriadi (The Australian)

A push to allow the publication of “horrific” footage of mistreatment of animals, including that of pigs being stun-gassed across slaughterhouses, is afoot in NSW. Read more >

Wednesday 3 May 2023 by Peter Hunt (Weekly Times)

Gas stunning of pigs causes panic and pain for an average 22 seconds, but alternatives such as electrocution and captive-bolts are just as problematic. Read more >

Monday 17 Apr 2023 by Ryan Malcolm (Wangaratta Chronicle)

Seven protesters who chained themselves to equipment at the Benalla abattoirs on Thursday morning will face court at a later date, after they were arrested on trespass offences. Read more >

Saturday 15 Apr 2023 by Farm Transparency Project (editorial)

On April 13th 2023 25 activists from Farm Transparency Project shutdown Benalla slaughterhouse for over 7 hours. We chained ourselves inside the gas chamber and race, preventing any pigs from being killed while we were there. More of us occupied the roof and remained up there for almost 12 hours before leaving voluntarily. Executive director of Farm Transparency Project, Chris Delforce locked himself inside one of the gondolas used to lower pigs into the deadly C02 gas. Read more >

Saturday 15 Apr 2023 by Polly Foreman (Plant Based News)

Animal activists from Farm Transparency Project (FTP) have occupied machines used to gas pigs at a slaughterhouse in Northern Victoria, Australia.  Read more >

Friday 14 Apr 2023 by (Sheep Central)

SEVEN people have been arrested and charged following a break-in to protest gas stunning of pigs at a Benalla abattoir yesterday. Read more >

Friday 14 Apr 2023 by Jason Gregory (The Weekly Times)

Protesters have been charged after allegedly chaining themselves to machinery and hiding in a “gas chamber”, as industry calls for the full force of law to come down. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (ABC TV News)

Prime-time TV news coverage of Farm Transparency Project's shut-down and protest at the Benalla slaughterhouse in northern Victoria, on 13 April 2023. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (7 TV News)

Prime-time TV news coverage of Farm Transparency Project's shut-down and protest at the Benalla slaughterhouse in northern Victoria, on 13 April 2023. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (7 TV News)

Prime-time TV news coverage of Farm Transparency Project's shut-down and protest at the Benalla slaughterhouse in northern Victoria, on 13 April 2023. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (9 TV News)

Prime-time TV news coverage of Farm Transparency Project's shut-down and protest at the Benalla slaughterhouse in northern Victoria, on 13 April 2023. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Adrian Black (Bendigo Advertiser)

Seven people have been arrested after animal rights activists blockaded a Victorian abattoir to protest the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs before slaughter. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Adrian Black (Goulburn Post)

Seven people have been arrested after animal rights activists blockaded a Victorian abattoir to protest the use of... Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Hugo Timms (News.com.au)

Dozens of vegan activists have chained themselves to an abattoir while describing the facility as a “gas chamber”. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Hugo Timms (Herald Sun)

Dozens of vegan activists have chained themselves to an abattoir while describing the facility as a “gas chamber”. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Monique Preston and Simon Ruppert (Riverine Herald)

Seven people have been charged after about 30 protesters chained themselves to equipment inside Benalla Abattoirs in the early hours of Thursday morning. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Simon Ruppert (Shepparton News)

Up to 30 members of protest group Farm Transparency Project halted work at the Benalla abattoir after infiltrating the facility early on Thursday, April 13. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Rachel Simmonds (Farm Online)

Victoria Police have allegedly responded to an animal rights protest at a Benalla abattoir. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Hugo Timms (The West Australian / NCA NewsWire)

Seven vegan activists have been arrested following a graphic stunt at a Victorian abattoir, where they chained themselves to metal railings. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (3AW Mornings)

Farmers have backed a move by protesters to stop stunning pigs in gas chambers prior to slaughter. About 30 animal activists broke into Benalla Abbatoir and some chained themselves to the gas chamber which is used to paralyse pigs. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Simon Ruppert (Benalla Ensign)

Up to 30 members of protest group Farm Transparency Project halted work at the Benalla abattoir after infiltrating the facility early on Thursday, April 13. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by (3AW Mornings)

A protest that’s halted operations at an abattoir in Victoria’s north has stretched into its 10th hour. About 30 animal activists broke in to Benalla Abattoir, with some chaining themselves to the gas chamber which is used to paralyse pigs. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Jane McNaughton (ABC News)

Seven animal activists have been charged with trespassing after they allegedly broke into an abattoir in Benalla and chained themselves to machinery. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Blair Thomson (Lismore City News)

Police officers and other emergency service workers are at an abattoir after activists locked themselves inside. Photographs released by the protest group on Thursday morning show people sitting inside machinery at the Firth Road meatworks, in Benalla, Victoria. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Blair Thomson (Central Western Daily)

Police officers and other emergency service workers are at an abattoir after activists locked themselves inside. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Blair Thomson (The Border Mail)

UPDATE: A protest at the Benalla abattoir has concluded with multiple people charged with trespassing and other offences. Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023 by Mitch Clarke (Herald Sun)

Seven protesters have been charged after allegedly chaining themselves to machinery as part of an animal rights protest in the state’s northeast, while the Premier has said he wasn’t aware of any breaches of standards at the facility. Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Lauren Day (ABC News)

There are calls for greater scrutiny of the pork industry after the ABC's 7.30 program airs video of pigs being stunned by carbon dioxide before slaughter. Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Eli Green (Daily Telegraph)

New hidden camera footage has revealed the way pigs are killed for their meat in Australia may be much less humane than previously thought. Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Rachael Ward (AAP)

The peak body for Australian pork farmers will review confronting footage which appears to show pigs squealing inside abattoirs before being killed. Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Michael Dahlstrom (Yahoo News)

Warning - confronting video. Activist Chris Delforce filmed pigs being gassed before slaughter inside an Australian abattoir. Source: Farm Transparency Project Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Writing Liberation (Medium)

On March 27th footage was aired on ABC’s 7:30, which showed in graphic detail the process of stunning inflicted on pigs farmed for their flesh. Modified atmospheric stunning (MAS) utilises… Read more >

Tuesday 28 Mar 2023 by Alexandra Laskie (Weekly Times)

The Australian pig industry has defended its use of carbon dioxide gas to stun pre-slaughter after damning footage aired on television. Read more >

Monday 27 Mar 2023 by Eli Green (News.com.au)

New hidden camera footage has revealed the way pigs are killed for their meat in Australia may be much less humane than previously thought. Read more >

Monday 27 Mar 2023 by Farm Transparency Project (editorial)

In early 2023, our investigators captured footage from inside Victoria's three largest pig slaughterhouses, revealing the terrifying final moments of pigs subjected to deadly gas chambers. This is the story of how we did it and why we won't stop. Read more >

Monday 27 Mar 2023 by Lauren Day (ABC News)

The use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs before slaughter is legal and widespread – but activists believe the industry doesn't want you to know what it looks like. Read more >

Wednesday 1 Mar 2023 by Adrian Black (AAP)

Seven people have been arrested after animal rights activists blockaded a Victorian abattoir to protest the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs before slaughter. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by (The Guardian)

"From their first lungful of gas, these pigs are burning from the inside out," Animal Liberation Victoria says of carbon dioxide stunning technique. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by Christopher Talbot and Jamie Duncan (The Australian)

Pigs suffer distress and struggle to breath and escape when gassed with carbon dioxide at abattoirs, RSPCA Australia says. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by Andrea Hamblin (Herald Sun)

A two-year undercover investigation by animal activists reveals shocking footage on the widespread practice of killing pigs by carbon dioxide. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by Liam Quinn (Daily Mail Australia)

Confronting footage of pigs apparently being forced into 'gas chambers' as they scream and try to escape before they are gutted and drained of blood has been captured by a group of animal activists. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by Debra Killalea (News.com.au)

THEY are pictured thrashing about, desperately trying to escape and their death is slow and excruciating. Read more >

Monday 7 Dec 2015 by Daniella Miletic and Rania Spooner (The Age)

Animal rights activists chained themselves to a Victorian pig slaughterhouse 'gas chamber' on Monday morning to protest against carbon dioxide stunning in the pork industry. Read more >

Friday 10 Nov 2023

15 animal activists have been charged with trespass, seven months after they occupied a Benalla slaughterhouse in a protest against the use of gas chambers in pig slaughterhouses. The protest, which happened on April 13th, was in response to an investigation of three Victorian pig slaughterhouses, which revealed pigs screaming, thrashing and gasping for air inside carbon dioxide gas chambers. Seven protestors were arrested and charged on the day, while the remaining 15 were allowed to leave voluntarily, after chains and other devices they were using to lock-on were removed by police. 15 animal rights protestors have been charged with trespass after shutting... Read more >

Monday 10 Jul 2023

Animal advocate Chris Delforce has today announced that his organisation, Farm Transparency Project, plans to break into 30 slaughterhouses over the next two years, to capture and expose footage of Australian animal slaughter to the public. Delforce, who earlier this year shared groundbreaking new footage of pigs being gassed to death in Victorian slaughterhouses after hiding in a gas chamber, stated that his organisation has already investigated six slaughterhouses this year, and will be releasing a new investigation this week. Footage from three new Australian slaughterhouses is promised over the next few weeks, with Delforce sharing that Farm Transparency Project has... Read more >

Thursday 25 May 2023

A Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into pig welfare has been announced less than two months after investigators from Farm Transparency Project released shocking footage of pigs being gassed to death in Victorian slaughterhouses.  Read more >

Thursday 13 Apr 2023

30 protestors have stopped operations at Benalla slaughterhouse in Northern Victoria, chaining themselves onto the gas chamber used to paralyse pigs for slaughter. Read more >

Monday 27 Mar 2023

Prominent animal advocate Chris Delforce hid inside one of the pork industry’s “humane” carbon dioxide gas chambers to document the gassing of pigs. New footage captured by Farm Transparency Project inside Victoria’s three largest slaughterhouses, revealed exclusively on ABC’s 7.30 program last night, shows thousands of pigs screaming and thrashing in agony as they are lowered into the gas.  This investigation comes 9 years after Delforce first used hidden cameras to expose the use of gas chambers for pigs; the first time in the world that the widespread practice had been captured on camera. He says it “has only... Read more >