The Sun Herald
Written by Catharine Munro

ANIMAL protection lobby group Voiceless is renewing its push to have old-fashioned circuses banned. 

The group will tomorrow donate $5000 to a Sydney University literature
professor to allow him to lobby councils and the State Government to outlaw
shows that involve wild animals.

The grant to Professor Barry Spurr is part of a bid to give animal rights
activism a more "professional" image, and is part of a long-term campaign to
stop animals being treated as property.

"The law teaches that we own them . . . that we can do what we like to them,"
said lawyer Katrina Sharman, who has been hired by Voiceless to promote the
legal rights of animals.

The new push faces strong opposition from government authorities.

"The NSW Government has no intention of banning circuses," said Primary
Industries Minister Ian Macdonald.

"At this stage, it does not appear that a majority of NSW communities are in
favour of banning the responsible use of animals in circuses."

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