Animals feel the pain of Halal slaughter

I'm not up on Islamic practice, but this could get tricky if this article is true: Animals feel the pain of Halal slaughter - On Line Opinion - 31/5/2011:

While an inquiry has been launched by the Department of Agriculture, and progressive politicians are indeed calling for an end (or at least moratorium) to live cattle export to Indonesia, a taboo topic, which is most salient at this juncture, is being rather nonsensically ignored: These animals are slaughtered according to Islamic (Halal) tradition.

Why is it that not even the journalists of 4 Corners, with their impeccable integrity, could bring themselves to make this connection?