Economy
RSPCA urges Minister to accept AWAC advice on the welfare of pigs
Following the Stateline program yesterday evening, the RSPCA has called upon Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green to accept advice provided by the Animal Welfare Committee on the welfare of pigs in the State.
‘Tasmania can potentially lead the country on the issue of pig welfare’ President Dr Paul Swiatkoswki said.
‘The Chair of the AWAC last night said that the Committee had advised the Minister that sow stalls should be banned in the State after 2017, and their use restricted from 2014. He further pointed out that sows in some piggeries here and interstate can be confined to sow stalls or farrowing crates for their entire adult lives. This goes beyond the ‘National Model Code for the Welfare of Animals – Pigs’ and the AWAC’s position on this is to be applauded.
Stateline (HERE) once again aired the distressing film footage provided by animal advocate Emma Haswell of appalling conditions at the Oliver pig farm in Northern Tasmania last year, showing malnourished pigs so cramped their were almost on top of one another, and pigs being eaten alive by maggots.
Dr Swiatkowski said that the RSPCA encouraged members to write to the Minister for Primary Industries, Bryan Green, asking him to accept the advice of the AWAC.
‘Sow stalls have been banned in the UK, some countries in the EU, and some states in the US, and are being phased out in others because of the undoubted welfare compromises’, he said. ‘It is clearly cruelty to keep an animal in a crate barely larger than its body for most of its life, and pigs are particularly intelligent, curious and sensitive animals. We hope that there will be sufficient public concern to persuade the Minister to adopt the AWAC’s position and show that Tasmania CAN lead the country in its animal welfare laws and standards’.
And,
Dear Tasmanians,
StopTAC advises that tonight on the ABC’s Stateline Program, the Chair of Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Advisory Committee detailed important advice his Committee has provided to Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green in relation to the banning of sow stalls in the State from 2017. This means that Tasmania could potentially lead the nation on pig welfare.
Professor White noted that some sows, in Tasmania and in other states, were confined to sow stalls and farrowing crates for their entire adult lives, noting how unacceptable this is.
The Professor also outlined an additional measure of limiting the length of time sows can be confined to stalls from 2014, another national precedent
Distressing images were shown once again of the appalling conditions at the Oliver pig farm in the North of the State, with sows confined almost on top of one another, and being eaten alive by maggots, the footage filmed by the courageous Tasmanian advocate Emma Haswell last year and for which Oliver was fined.
Animals Australia has sent an appeal urging the community to write to Minister Green, urging him to accept the advice of his Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. If there is sufficient community outrage at the images shown this evening, this will be a tremendous breakthrough for the welfare of Tasmanian pigs.
You can write to Minister Green:
Bryan.Green@parliament.tas.gov.au
Parliament House, Hobart TAS 7000
The transcript and video of the program are usually available the following day, in this case it should be Monday.
Best regards
Stephanie
The StopTAC Team