[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Greens Table Massive Battery Hen Petition_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

GREENS TABLE MASSIVE PETITION AGAINST BATTERY HEN FARMING

Call on Labor and Liberal to Allow Conscience Vote

Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader

Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today tabled in the State Parliament a petition of
over 23,000 signatures calling for a ban on battery hen farming in
Tasmania, and called on the Labor and Liberal parties to allow a
conscience vote when the Greens bring their Animal Welfare (Ban Battery
Hens) Amendment Bill 2008 on for debate this Wednesday afternoon.

Greens Opposition Leader Nick McKim MP said the 23,000-signature
petition is one of the largest ever tabled in Tasmania's House of
Assembly and demonstrates overwhelming community opposition to the cruel
practice of battery hen farming.

Mr McKim also said that most Tasmanian egg producers have already moved
away from battery hen farming so there will not be any major restructure
required in Tasmania.   

"I congratulate the massive effort undertaken by Against Animal Cruelty
Tasmania to gather this massive number, over 23, 000, of signatures on
this Ban Battery Hen petition, which makes it one of the largest to ever
have been tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament," Mr McKim said.

"The inhumane and cruel treatment of battery hens is an issue of
conscience for many Tasmanians and I believe the Liberal and Labor
parties should allow their Members a conscience vote when we debate this
issue on Wednesday afternoon."

"A ban on battery hen farming will bring huge marketing benefits for the
entire Tasmanian egg industry while only two producers will actually be
negatively affected," said Mr McKim.

"The Greens acknowledge that the affected producers will require
assistance to move away from battery hen farming and we are proposing a
significant financial package to smooth that transition."

Mr McKim also called on Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn to
provide some proof to back up his doomsaying predictions about battery
hen eggs flooding in from the mainland as a result of any ban in
Tasmania.  




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