Senator Rhiannon (New South Wales) (11:55): I move

That the Senate notes:

(a) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners program, 'Making a Killing' aired on 16 February 2015, exposed the abhorrent cruelty in parts of the greyhound industry and the horrific use of terrified live animals as live bait to 'blood' greyhounds in training;

(b) the extensive work of Animals Australia, Animal Liberation Queensland, and many others on this program;

Lee's opinion piece on sport hunting was published today.

The sport hunting and shooting of native animals for fun in Africa is no longer out of sight, out of mind.

Last week, there were revelations that some of our sporting heroes, men who represent Australia on the international stage, playing the game of cricket we love so dearly, are now the ones doing the killing and the posing.

Senator RHIANNON: Which countries currently import kangaroo products?

Dr V Findlay : There are 68 countries. Just let me find my list, but I am not sure you want me to read out all 68.

Senator RHIANNON: No, I do not want you to read them out. Could you take it on notice, and could it include what kangaroo product is imported, the weight of the imports for each of those products and the financial value of each product, and could that be since June 2013?

Dr V Findlay : Yes, we have that information available.

Commenting on Four Corners ‘Making a Killing' which has exposed evidence of extreme animal abuse in the greyhound industry as a result of investigations by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Australia Queensland, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"The Greens join animal protection groups in calling on state racing bodies to instigate life bans on individuals found guilty of live baiting, and for specialist government task forces to take over the regulation of the industry.

The Greens will be working closely with animal welfare groups to ensure Liberal Senator Chris Back's bill to prosecute whistleblowers and investigators who expose animal cruelty is not passed.

Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said: "Senator Back and his Liberal and National party colleagues should be addressing animal welfare concerns in factory farming instead of persecuting whistleblowers trying to stop animal abuses.

Liberal Senator Chris Back's bill to prosecute whistleblowers who expose animal cruelty should not be passed as it would restrict the important role of whistleblowers and investigators working to end animal cruelty, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

"Undercover investigators play an important role exposing abuse of animals which, in many cases leads to prosecutions.

"The reframing of such actions as ‘criminal' by Senator Back attempts to divert attention from those who commit the animal cruelty.

Commenting on a story on Lateline last night about cruelty to Australian animals in the Middle East, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

 “Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), the reported exporter of Australian animals that have suffered horrific abuse in Gaza, should have its export licence suspended until all investigations against it are completed.

Coalition and Labor Senators have combined to prevent the Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon from speaking in reply to her motion to strengthen welfare regulation for live exports to Egypt.

After outlining why they supported the resumption of the Egypt live export trade, Labor and the Coalition Senators supported a gag motion to shut down all further debate.

MEDIA RELEASE
16 June 2014

Activist gag laws another attack on free speech and animal welfare

Australian Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has accused Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce of using biosecurity as a cover to introduce "ag-gag" laws as a way to shut down scrutiny of animal cruelty.

Greens spokesperson on animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon commenting on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce's plan to expand Australia's live export trade into Iran said:

"Minister Barnaby Joyce is looking after a few wealthy pastoralists ahead of jobs growth in regional Australia.

"Expanding the live export trade into Iran is not about assisting farmers and rural communities.

"Minister Joyce is putting his sectional interests before the economic health of regional and rural Australia.