MEDIA RELEASE: 12th SEPTEMBER 2019
SQUALID CONDITIONS AT NSW PIGGERY EXPOSED: ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY MP EMMA HURST CLAIMS FOOTAGE MAKES A MOCKERY OF NEW BIOSECURITY REGULATIONS
The distressing footage, released by Animal Liberation, shows rotting buckets of dead piglets and sows being left to decompose in their stalls, surrounded by rats eating the dead bodies. The footage also shows workers cruelly poking pigs with cattle prods and even riding a sow.
Ms Hurst says, “This abhorrent treatment of animals is exactly what the NSW Government’s draconian suite of new ag-gag laws* are trying to cover up,” said Ms Hurst.
“We have tabled a disallowance motion against the Government’s most recent attempt at an ag-gag law, which was introduced into Parliament under the guise of biosecurity regulations. But if this footage is anything to go by, biosecurity is not a priority for most intensive animal agriculture facilities, which are focused on profit and nothing else.
“If the Minister for Agriculture is so concerned about biosecurity, why doesn’t he make it compulsory for every agriculture facility to have a rigorous biosecurity management plan? Right now, it is optional for farmers.
“Instead, the NSW Government has chosen to introduce so-called biosecurity regulations which target whistleblowers with a maximum individual fine of $220,000 for entering a farm to expose brutal acts of animal cruelty, while maximum fines for committing animal cruelty remain at just $5,500.
“Make no mistake, these laws are really about intimidation. The Government is pushing a political agenda to instill fear and silence members of society who expose animal abuse. Today, once again, the community can see an example of exactly the type of footage the Government is trying to hide.
“We have seen countless videos from concerned whistleblowers horrified at the brutality and lax biosecurity practices they have witnessed behind closed doors of the animal agribusiness industry. This isn’t a one off.
“I look forward to moving my disallowance motion next week when Parliament sits and exposing these biosecurity regulations for what they really are – an attack on transparency and an attempt to keep the public in the dark about how their food is produced”
* In the past two months, the Government has introduced the Biosecurity Amendment (Biosecurity Management Plans) Regulation 2019, which allows for fines of up to $220,000 to be imposed on individuals who enter an agricultural property in breach of a “Biosecurity Management Plan”, and tabled the Right to Farm Bill 2019 which would allow up to three year’s jail time to be imposed on anyone who trespasses on farm property.
While the Biosecurity Amendment (Biosecurity Management Plans) Regulation 2019 took effect on 1 August 2019, the Animal Justice Party has introduced a disallowance motion in NSW Parliament which will seek to have the regulations thrown out.
VIDEO FOOTAGE: https://www.facebook.com/animalliberationqld/videos/991065631225377/
MEDIA CONTACT: ROSINA RAYNS, 0401 991 792