Tasmanian Quality Meats Abattoir
| Name: | Tasmanian Quality Meats Abattoir |
| Address: | 5 Burlington Road, Cressy TAS 7302, Australia |
| LGA/Council: | Northern Midlands Council |
| Summary: |
Award-winning export abattoir. Kills sheep and bobby calves. First exposed in May 2017 by Animal Liberation and Animal Liberation Tasmania after a hidden camera investigation in late 2016 revealed systemic cruelty, additional footage released by Animal Liberation in July 2017. |
| Categories: | |
| Species: | |
| Last known status: | Open and operating |
| Listing updated: | 2025 |
| Listing ID: | 61420 |
| View on map: |
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Slaughterhouse
SheepOn the outskirts of the town of Cressy, 30 minutes from Launceston, a series of corrugated iron buildings sits alongside a fast-flowing creek. This is Tasmanian Quality Meats, a multi-species slaughterhouse which specialises in the killing of tiny, days old bobby calves who have been discarded as waste from any of the 412 dairy farms in Tasmania.
At TQM, terrified calves are hit across the face and body to force them into a narrow walkway and, finally, into a restraint where an electric prodder is pushed into their skulls and an electrical current passed through their brain before their throats are slit. We saw many calves who weren’t stunned at all, meaning that they were killed while fully conscious, likely experiencing excruciating pain and terror as they slowly bled out. They then have their bodies taken apart and their blood collected. The bodies of these calves are often sold as veal, while their skins are used to create leather products, sought after for their softness.
The slaughter of sheep is no less violent. Our cameras filmed the use of dogs to herd and harass terrified sheep, who were then shoved, thrown and hit with paddles and pipes to force them towards the electric stunner. These dogs were then returned to metal and concrete cages, where they were left overnight, barking and running at the bars in boredom and frustration.
At TQM, we captured horrific scenes of tiny male calves being kicked, thrown, hit with paddles across the face and body and killed while fully conscious. We watched as one calf fell off the killing table into a pool of blood so deep that they were almost submerged. We saw them continue to blink up at us from the bottom of this horrific pit, a clear sign that they remained awake and aware as the blood drained from their body.
What we saw was horrifying, yet, we know that this violence is standard across Australia.
Take action now to demand that the Tasmanian government urgently address the systemic failures we have uncovered in their animal slaughter facilities.
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Award-winning export abattoir. Kills sheep and bobby calves.
A hidden camera investigation in late 2016 revealed systemic cruelty. The footage was provided to the relevant authority, the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries (DPIPWE); as of July 2017 there appears to have been no action taken by the department in response to the footage.
First exposed in May 2017 by Animal Liberation and Animal Liberation Tasmania with release of bobby calf slaughter footage ("wastage" from the dairy industry - see www.dropdairy.com.au for more information). Footage of sheep/lamb slaughter released by Animal Liberation in July 2017.
The footage shows workers repeatedly beating, kicking, and throwing the animals; and regular ineffective use of the electric stunner on sheep, with at least one slaughtered while fully conscious.
Virtual tours & Campaigns (4)
Take action (1)
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EMAIL: Help us shut down slaughterhouses
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... Act now >
Photos (265)
Videos (45)
Documents (1)
Advocacy materials (0)
News (24)
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Hidden camera investigations into five Tasmanian abattoirs closed without prosecution
Tuesday 31 Mar 2026 by
It comes over two years after the footage sparked animal cruelty allegations… Read more >
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No records kept of how much video surveillance is being reviewed inside Tasmanian abattoirs
Tuesday 2 Sep 2025 by
ABC News provides the latest news and headlines in Australia and around the world. Read more >
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Tasmanian abattoir thrives amid US-China tariffs tit-for-tat
Wednesday 7 May 2025 by
Tasmanian Quality Meats enters China's market amidst US-China trade tensions, boosting local farmers and increasing mutton exports. Read more >
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Government accepts taskforce recommendations for abattoirs and will increase monitoring
Monday 11 Nov 2024 by
The government has released the recommendations of a taskforce it set up in the wake of distressing footage of alleged animal cruelty at abattoirs. Read the latest. Read more >
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Tasmanian reforms promise better animal welfare by 2025
Sunday 10 Nov 2024 by
Tasmania adopts 11 of 12 taskforce reforms for better animal welfare in abattoirs by 2025, enhancing humane practices and boosting surveillance. Read more >
Media releases by FTP (8)
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Open letter to Prime Minister, signed by senator and state MPs, calls for independent regulation of animal slaughter
Thursday 24 Oct 2024
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Cassy O’Connor and Abigail Boyd join state MPs to call for independent oversight of Australian slaughterhouses Farm Transparency Project, who wrote the letter, says that the government has failed to appropriately investigate hundreds of cases of alleged animal cruelty. The organisation is accusing the government department of corruption, claiming that their actions have raised doubts about their integrity and suitability to monitor and regulate animal welfare. Read the open letter View photos and footage An open letter, signed by a senator, several state MPs and animal protection organisations, is calling on the Prime Minister's office... Read more >
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Open letter regarding inadequacy and corruption of abattoir regulator
Thursday 24 Oct 2024
Dear Mr Albanese, I am writing on behalf of Farm Transparency Project, a non-profit animal protection organisation focused on raising public awareness about commercial animal farming and slaughter practices through comprehensive investigations into Australian animal use facilities. Over the past decade, our organisation has investigated a number of facilities and practices, catalysing significant animal welfare reforms. In recent years, this has included: Publishing footage of the foothold trapping and killing of native dingoes in Victoria by government contractors, stimulating debate and likely contributing to the Victorian government ending the practice in parts of the state. Investigating the failed phase-out of... Read more >
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Activists publish interactive virtual tours of Tasmanian slaughterhouses
Tuesday 19 Mar 2024
Animal protection organisation Farm Transparency Project (FTP) has published interactive virtual tours of two Tasmanian slaughterhouses recently exposed for cruelty The tours were filmed with 360-degree cameras inside Tasmanian Quality Meats at Cressy, and Scottsdale Pork, during FTP's covert investigation last year With the state election just days away, FTP has published the tours - which incorporate footage from hidden cameras - to draw attention to months of inaction by the Rockliff government Farm Transparency Project (FTP) has published on its website two interactive virtual slaughterhouse tours, filmed last year with 360° cameras inside the Tasmanian Quality Meats and Scottsdale Pork... Read more >
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New anti-dairy campaign takes aim at Dairy Australia’s flagship education program
Tuesday 27 Feb 2024
Farm Transparency Project has released a new campaign calling for a ban of Dairy Australia’s Discover Dairy program, which provides lesson plans and activities to schools. The campaign, titled End Dairy Slaughter, features footage of the slaughter of week-old bobby calves and 4-6 year old dairy cows being violently slaughtered, which has been captured in Australian slaughterhouses in the past year. Farm Transparency Project is calling out Dairy Australia for manipulative and deceptive targeting of children through their program which the group claims is biased and inaccurate. A mother cow chases after a trailer taking away her newborn calf. ... Read more >
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Protesters plan disruption at Cressy slaughterhouse after release of “shocking” hidden camera footage
Monday 15 Jan 2024
Campaigners from Animal Liberation Tasmania and Farm Transparency Project are planning on disrupting animal transport trucks at Tasmanian Quality Meats slaughterhouse, in a protest against “systemic animal cruelty in Tasmanian slaughterhouses.” Read more >
Nearby facilities (2)
Facilities within a 5km radius.
