[Greens-Media] Greens Bill to Give Animals A Voice

[Guthrie, Shane]

Greens Bill to Give Animals A Voice 
Media release, 28 May 2013 

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren believes today's bill introduced by the Australian Greens in the House of Representatives to establish an independent Office of Animal Welfare will address a longstanding weakness in protecting animal welfare in Australia.

"The Voice for Animals (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill will establish an animal welfare champion to promote animal rights that is independent of government and the Department of Agriculture," Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said. 

"I expect that the ALP would vote for it because the Bill is implementing an ALP National Conference resolution made over two and a half years ago. Federal Labor has been sitting on their hands despite the momentum following the 2011 live export scandal. 

"Evidence of cruelty has continued to come in. Clearly, the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) has failed to improve animal welfare standards for cattle exported from Western Australia. 

"The Greens introduced the Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill in 2011. Now the Greens are introducing a bill to establish an independent Office of Animal Welfare, creating an independent animal rights champion. This is an important step towards changing the culture within government and the factory farming industry.

"The WA state government has repeatedly side-stepped my questions in parliament on alternatives to live export. Responsible economic planning would see that the writing is on the wall for live exports. 

"The recent increase in frozen meat exports to Indonesia is further evidence of the viability of packaged meat exports to Asia and the Middle East," said Ms MacLaren. 

At the launch of the bill in federal parliament, Australian Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt said, ""The Greens will continue to campaign for an end to the cruel live export trade.

"Until this happens the Office would monitor and recommend improvements to the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, which exposé after exposé shows is failing animals.

"The Office will be a Centre of Excellence on animal welfare science and law and work to harmonise and improve animal welfare laws across the country," Mr Bandt said.


For comment: Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
Mobile 0403 721 951

Media liaison: Shane Guthrie
Mobile 0428 207 007

Office of Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia
Unit 7, 142 South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel 08 9430 7233
Shane.Guthrie at mp.wa.gov.au   www.LynnMacLaren.org.au