2015/03: Should all Australian states ban factory farming of pigs and chickens?





Introduction to the media issue

Video clip at right:
In July 2012 United States animal welfare groups and eggs producers reached agreement on housing laying chickens in larger cages. The change is intended to be phased in over 18 years. The law has met with opposition from some farming groups. The piece becomes a comment opposing factory farming. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.


What they said...
'These birds spend their lives inside a dimly lit shed with tens of thousands of other birds'
Animals Australia describing the conditions under which chickens reared for meat are generally kept

'The majority of people would say they are opposed to factory farming but ... this concern does not show in their consumer behaviour'
Hans Kriek, the executive director of the animal welfare group SAFE

The issue at a glance
On November 11, 2014, the New South Wales Greens gave notice of a bill to ban the use of sow stalls and farrowing crates in New South Wales.
In September, 2014, the Victorian Greens introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Domestic Fowl and Pigs) and Food Amendment (Free-range Eggs) Bill into state parliament.
The Bill proposes to ban hen cages, sow stalls and the debeaking of hens. It also proposes to clarify the meaning of 'free range' for the purposes of egg production.
On February 25, 2014, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban factory farming of pigs and chickens. The ACT Animal Welfare (Factory Farming) Amendment Act effectively bans the use of 'battery cages' and 'enriched cages', by omitting them from the definition of what constitutes 'appropriate accommodation'. The Act also bans the debeaking of hens and makes it illegal for sows to be kept in sow stalls or farrowing crates.
In May 2012 Tasmania became the first state in Australia where all locally produced eggs are guaranteed cruelty-free and free-range.
Supporters of such legislation claim that it is the only way to remove cruelty from the management of these animals. Opponents claim that such measures exaggerate the negative aspects of intensive farming and that the changes that would make these industries uneconomic.