| Voiceless Federal Election 2007 Animal Protection Policy Survey |
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Australia's major political parties were asked to indicate their level of support for various animal protection issues on a spectrum of strongly support / support / do not support / strongly do not support / no policy. Responses are indicated below, correct as of 22 November 2007. Neither the ALP nor the Liberal party provided a formal response to Voiceless's Survey despite several oral and written requests. Policies have therefore been deduced based on statements made and actions previously taken by those parties.
KEY: STRONGLY SUPPORT / SUPPORT / DO NOT SUPPORT / STRONGLY DO NOT SUPPORT / NO POLICY ? = NO RESPONSE GIVEN & NO CONCLUSION WAS DRAWN FROM PUBLISHED POLICY STATEMENTS THE FAMILY FIRST PARTY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE SURVEY. Voiceless is a non-profit non partisan organisation and does not endorse any particular political party or candidate. Authorised by Emma Bull, 2 Paddington Street Paddington NSW 2021. While Voiceless makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information presented on its behalf, Voiceless does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information. Information is provided by Voiceless as general information only and any use of or reliance on it should only be undertaken on a strictly voluntary basis after an independent review by a qualified legal practitioner (or other expert). Voiceless is not responsible for, and disclaims all liability for, any loss or damage arising out of the use of or reliance on information it provides. © November 2007, Voiceless Limited ABN 49 108 494 631, 2 Paddington St, Paddington NSW 2021. [i] Based upon lack of ALP opposition to the current live export trade. However, in a recent television debate, ALP Senator Kerry O’Brien said, in relation to live animal exports, “If it comes to the point where the Australian public do not accept that animal welfare concerns are properly being met, Governments of any persuasion will be faced with a difficult decision and will probably be almost forced to shut it down”. (ABC Landline, 4 November 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s2079657.htm>. [ii]More than 4 million sheep and half as million cattle are exported each year under the Federal Coalition Government’s policies. Goats, Deer, Buffalo, Camels, Dairy cows and day old chicks are also exported. See: The Coalition Government Election 2007 Policy, ‘Agriculture Advancing’, p 2 and p 8. <http://www.liberal.org.au/about/ourpoliciesplans.php>; Animals Australia ‘Live Animal Exports – The Issues’, [19 November 2007] http://www.liveexport-indefensible.com/facts/issues.php, Tim Lee, ‘Live Exports a godsend for dairy producers’, Landline, 3 April 2005, <http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2005/s1334444.htm>; Ingham, ‘Export- About Us’, [19 November 2007] http://www.inghams.com.au/exports/sitedocument.aspx?docId=695. [iii] Based on the absence of contrary statements from State and Territory Governments and Department of Primary Industries’ policies. Further, State and Territory Governments have introduced and sanctioned numerous Federal Model Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare (‘the Codes’) < http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/22/sid/11.htm>. Voiceless has always been of the view that the Codes are unable to offer true protection to pigs and other farm animals, as they are used to justify many cruel factory farming practices. The Codes are also used as a tool to maintain the veil of secrecy over the worst aspects of factory farming. [iv] Based on the Federal Coalition Government’s sanctioning of the Codes through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (‘PIMC’). Further, the Federal Coalition Government has funded Cooperative Research Centres, <https://www.crc.gov.au/Information/default.aspx> which are making agricultural industries increasingly productive and efficient – through further intensification of animal production processes. For example, the Pork CRC at <http://www.porkcrc.com.au> and Poultry CRC <https://www.poultrycrc.com.au/index.php?>. [v] Based on no response to letter from Voiceless to Senator Kerry O’Brien, 21 May 2007. [vi] Based on letter from Minister Peter McGauran to Voiceless, 24 September 2007. [vii] Based on State and Territory Governments endorsement through the PIMC, of the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Pigs (revised) which allows for the use of sow stalls. See Primary Industries Ministerial Council, Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals- Pigs (revised), 20 April 2007, Appendix III. [viii] Based on the Federal Coalition Government’s endorsement of the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Pigs (revised) through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Peter McGauran’s position as Chair of the PIMC. [ix] Based on State and Territory Governments endorsement of the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Domestic Poultry, which allows for the use of battery hen cages in which each hen has less than an A4 sized piece of paper in which to move. See: Primary Industries Standing Committee, Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Domestic Poultry, 4th Ed., (2002), Introduction and Appendix I. [x] Based on the Federal Coalition Government’s endorsement, through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister Peter McGauran’s position as Chair of the PIMC, of the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Domestic Poultry. [xi] Based on the Labor Party’s acceptance of the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare, NCCAW Position Statement - Standards for the Care and Treatment of Rodeo Livestock, June 2006. Further, each State and Territory Government, excluding the ACT, allows for rodeos, see <http://www.voiceless.org.au/Get_Informed/Animals_in_Entertainment/Rodeo_L aws.html> for further details of state based legislation. [xii] Based on the Federal Coalition Government’s development of the NCCAW Position Statement - Standards for the Care and Treatment of Rodeo Livestock, June 2006. Further based on the scope of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) <http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/aaws>. [xiii] Based on the Labor Party’s acceptance of the NCCAW Position Statement No 26 - Recommended National Circus Standards, September 2005. Further based on each State and Territory Government allowing for the use of animals in circuses, see <http://www.voiceless.org.au/Get_Informed/Animals_in_Entertainment/Circus _Laws.html> for further details of State based legislation. [xiv] Based on the Federal Coalition Government’s development of NCCAW Position Statement No 26 - Recommended National Circus Standards, September 2005. Further based on the scope of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) <http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/aaws>. [xv] State and Territory Governments have endorsed the culling of kangaroos through the National Resource Management Ministerial Council. The Council which is comprised of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers having responsibility for ’natural resources’ has been reviewing the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos since August 2004. see <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/wild-harvest/kangaroo/ code-discussion/index.html>. Commercial kangaroo ‘harvesting’ quotas are also set by a number of State Governments. [*] Response received from The Greens indicated that they support the culling of kangaroos "only where absolutely necessary for environmental protection". [xvi] In 2007, the Federal Coalition Government endorsed management plans which facilitate the commercial culling of 6 kangaroo and wallaby species, subject to certain quotas in five states. See: Department of the Environment and Heritage, ‘Background Information: Commercial Kangaroo and Wallaby Harvest Quotas’, p 1 [19 November 2007], < http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/publications/kangaroo/ pubs/2007-commercial-harvest-quotas.pdf> [xvii] Based on no contrary statements from State and Territory Governments or the Departments of Primary Industries. Further based on State and Territory Governments having introduced and sanctioned the Codes. [xviii] Based on Federal Coalition Governments sanctioning the Codes, which permit such practices, through the PIMC. [xix] Based on State and Territory Governments endorsement, through the PIMC, of the National Cattle Guidelines for Beef Feedlots in Australia. Feedlots are a form of factory farming which permit intensive confinement of cattle in order to facilitate the fattening process. See: Primary Industries Standing Committee, National Cattle Guidelines for Beef Feedlots in Australia, SCARM Report 47, 2002. [xx] Based on Federal Coalition Governments sanctioning the National Cattle Guidelines for Beef Feedlots in Australia through the PIMC. [xxi] Model Codes of Practice for the humane capture, handling and destruction of feral animals in Australia were developed during 2004. State and Territory Labor Governments have adopted some or all of these Code and Standard Operating Procedures, in part or in full. For details, see the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources’ website <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/humane-control/>; Department of Primary Industries and Water, Code of Practice for the Use of 1080 for Native Browsing Animal Management, Tasmania, July 2006 <http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/SSKA-5BHV2A?open>. [xxii] Based upon current Government policy as outlined in The Coalition Government Election 2007 Policy, ‘Agriculture Advancing’, p 17 |
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