Bid to ban battery hens

Nick McKim MR www.tas.greens.org.au

The Tasmanian Greens today announced that they would table in the House of Assembly tomorrow (Tuesday) a Bill to ban battery hen farming in Tasmania, saying that it is the only way to ensure that community expectations on animal welfare in the egg industry are met.

Greens Deputy Leader and Animal Welfare Spokesperson Nick McKim MP, who said that the Bill will be brought on for debate in the near future, also proposed a ‘Restructure and Re-brand’ package to assist the industry to better meet community expectations by restructuring into cruelty-free farming methods

Mr McKim said that the Greens’ proposals include:

· A ban on battery hen farming in Tasmania, with breaches attracting fines of up to $50 000 and imprisonment for up to 12 months;

· A government transition package to assist producers to move into cruelty-free egg production; and

· The creation of a ‘Cruelty-Free Tasmanian Eggs’ label to promote Tasmanian eggs around Australia.

“The government is currently unable to ensure adequate animal welfare standards in Tasmania’s battery farms, and we believe that an outright ban is the only way to guarantee that the community’s expectations are met,” Mr McKim said.

“We acknowledge that the egg industry will need significant assistance to transition out of current intensive farming methods, and we are proposing a significant financial package to assist egg producers to do that.”

“Eggs produced in Tasmania under cruelty free conditions would be attractive to consumers right around Australia, and we believe that under our proposals the Tasmanian egg industry would not only thrive, but also satisfy the community’s rightful expectations around animal welfare standards.”

“With links being established between unacceptable animal welfare standards and salmonella outbreaks, a ban on battery hen farming would deliver outcomes in human health as well as animal welfare,” Mr McKim said.

Mr McKim said that he believed that fears of battery eggs from mainland states flooding the Tasmanian market in the event of a ban on battery farming in Tasmania are without foundation.

“That argument is a knee-jerk reaction from supporters of the current situation who cannot accept that the community is demanding change.”

“It is time for Tasmania to take a leadership role on this issue, and it would be to the benefit of the broader egg-production industry in this state if we have to go it alone in the national context,” Mr McKim said.

The Greens first moved to ban battery hens in 1997, and again in 2002 but were defeated both times by Labor and Liberal voting together against the proposed legislation.

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