Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson
The Greens tabled a bill to ban battery hen farming in Tasmania in Parliament today. Our Bill reflects community expectations of modern farming practices.
In 2008, more than 23,000 Tasmanians signed a petition to call for an end to battery hen farming. The Greens' Bill is testament to the will of a great number of Tasmanians who understand the harrowing reality of battery hen farms.
The life of a battery hen is miserable. For the whole of their significantly shortened lives, hens are confined, without access to the outdoors or even natural light, in a space not much bigger than their own body.
Battery hen farming is an archaic and inhumane practice and it has no place in a compassionate society, or in modern farming practice. Many Tasmanians would be surprised the practice was not banned decades ago.
As Tasmanians have learnt more about the cruelty of the battery hen industry, less have wanted to buy their eggs. This inhumane industry is dying, it's not our future, but a cruel relic of our farming past.
Tasmanian farmers do a lot of trade from our clean, green brand. That is our future, and battery hen farming in no way fits that brand, nor with community expectations.
As a passionate campaigner for animal welfare, I am extremely proud that this bill is the first piece of legislation I've tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament.
The Greens tabled similar legislation in 2008, along with a 23,000 strong petition. We've been the sole parliamentary voice for animal welfare for some decades and our Bill builds on the work of now Greens Senator for Tasmania, Nick Mckim.
Farming of battery hens should've been banned a long time ago and we hope that Minister Rockliff and his colleagues will listen to the community's disgust with this practice and support our legislation.
There's no place for battery hen farming in a modern, compassionate Tasmania.
