SPOTLIGHT ON FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

The Tasmanian Greens will use World Farm Animals Day tomorrow to highlight the serious and ongoing animal welfare problems in Tasmania’s rural industries.

Greens MPs from around Australia will join together on October 2 to call for an immediate end to live exports and a shift toward more humane laws governing livestock husbandry.

Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that with dairy production poised to expand in Tasmania, it’s important for this industry not to lose sight of animal welfare concerns.

“The recent investment in milk processing at Smithton is great news for the Circular Head region, and we should be using this as an opportunity to put the spotlight on the animal welfare issues that continue to dog the industry,” Ms O’Connor said.

“This year in Tasmania we have seen more convictions handed down for cruelty in the dairy industry, including a farmer who tail-docked a herd of cows with an angle grinder and another who failed to seek treatment for dairy cows with serious eye-cancers.”

“The vast majority of diary producers care about the welfare of their animals and try to do the right thing, but it’s clear there is a minority who don’t care, and who treat their animals simply as economic units.”

“The Greens want changes to the Animal Welfare Act 1993 that would encourage magistrates to hand down stronger penalties for all people who mistreat animals.”

“Time and time again, we have seen convictions recorded against farmers for inhumane practices only for them to get away with just a slap on the wrist.”

Ms O’Connor also today repeated the Greens call for an end to the practice of live sheep and cattle exports from Tasmanian ports.

“Public opinion has shifted strongly on the issue of live exports in the wake of the Four Corners report earlier this year.”

“Nobody who has witnessed the way these animals are treated would accept the live export of animals destined for off-shore slaughter-houses, and we are calling for an immediate ban on the live export of Tasmanian livestock.”
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Animal Welfare Spokesperson