[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 'New video footage underscores need to eliminate hen battery cages in NSW' Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
20/5/2014
New video footage underscores need to eliminate hen battery cages in NSW
NSW Greens Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has called recent footage showing the inside of a battery hen operation in Newcastle disturbing and called on the NSW Government to ban battery cages.

"The footage, which shows hundreds of hens in very crowded conditions, is shocking and another wake up call for the need to end battery cages in New South Wales.

"Most people would be disturbed to know that confining hens to just the space of an A4 page inside a cage is allowed in New South Wales.

"NSW needs to catch up with the European Union and ban battery cages, like it did in 2012. Here in Australia, the ACT Greens are leading the charge, having successfully banned battery cages this year.

"NSW can and must phase out battery cages and legislate for minimum standards for the labelling of free range eggs.

"Last week I presented a petition from thousands of people demanding an end to the use of battery cages in New South Wales and I will look into introducing a bill to do just that.

"The Greens NSW will begin discussions with stakeholders about how best to begin this process.

"Consumers are looking for real alternatives to battery cages, but there is no real standard for free range labelling, meaning that ethical egg producers are competing with lower cost, lower animal welfare operations.

"My Greens NSW colleague, Dr John Kaye MLC, introduced a bill to legislate for clear labelling of free range eggs, which successfully passed the Legislative Council, but was defeated by the NSW Government in the Lower House" she concluded.

The Video: http://www.aussieeggs.com/egg-farms/henholme

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423106247

Online version: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/new-video-footage-underscores-need-to-eliminate-hen-battery-cages-in-nsw/


Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
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Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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