Below: An October 29, 2014 report on products sold in Australia with ingredients tested on Animals overseas
Below: On the 14th of September 2015, a Motion in support of ending animal testing for cosmetics was moved in the House of Representatives by Government MP Jason Wood. The cross-party motion was seconded by Liberal MP Steve Irons, with the support of Labor MPs Kelvin Thompson and Melissa Parke.
Below: On Jul7 7, 2015, VIVE News ran a report on Europe's largest primate testing facility, the Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC) in the Netherlands. Here scientists try to find cures for the worst human diseases, while claiming to provide unparalleled care for the monkeys.
Below: On November 20, 2012, Forces TV carried a report in which the British Ministry of Defence defended its practice of sending surgeons serving in the British Army to controversial medical training in Denmark involving shooting live pigs to replicate battlefield wounds.
Below: A video clip produced in 2012 outlining some of the reasons why animal testing has been necessary. The clip focuses on the use of monkeys to test the effectiveness and safety of a vaccine against polio.
Below: On June 18, 2010, the Connecticut news channel WTNH News 8 carried a report detailing the actions of a national advocacy group which has filed a complaint against Hartford Hospital for using live animals for surgical training. The hospital is claimed to be one of only five hospitals in the United States and Canada still using live animals for trauma training.
Below: On June 24, 2015, Newsy televised a report on organ-on-a chip, a device which electronically replicates human organs and which can be used for drug testing and other research procedures. The device was developed by the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and has been suggested to have the potential to remove the need for animal testing in modern medicine.
Web links, documents
Internet information
On April 26, 2016, The Age published a comment by John Cunningham, an orthopaedic spinal surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Epworth Richmond.
The comment is titled 'Surgeons trained on living animals save lives' and is a defence of some surgical skills training being conducted using living animals.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.theage.com.au/comment/surgeons-trained-on-live-animals-save-lives-20160420-gobgug.html
On January 31, 2016, the Sydney Morning Herald published an expos and background piece titled 'Millions of animals around Australia subjected to experiments and surgery'
The article presents the results of a piece of investigative reporting by Natalie O'Brien into the extent of the use of animals in medical research and surgical skills training. The article also presents a range of points of view on the use of animals for these purposes.
The full text of the article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/millions-of-animals-around-australia-ssed
On December 21, 2015, On Line published a comment by Helen Marston, the chief executive officer of the Humane Research Australia. The opinion piece is titled 'New publication demonstrates the need to replace animal models in medical research' and can be accessed at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=17908
On June 23, 2015, The Guardian published a news report titled 'The end of animal testing? Human-organs-on-chips win Design of the Year'
The report details the London Design Museum awarding its annual prize to 'human-organs-on-chips', a development which allows silicone chips, lined with living human cells to mimic the tissue structures and mechanical motions of human organs, promising to accelerate drug discovery, and decrease development costs and lead to personalised medicine.
The full text of the article can be accessed at http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/22/the-end-of-animal-testing-human-organs-on-chips-win-design-of-the-year
On July 2, 2014, The Conversation published a comment by Dr Monika Merkes, Honorary Associate, Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing, La Trobe University and Rob Buttrose, University of Melbourne. Both Merkes and Buttrose disclosed that they are on the Committee of Management of Humane Research Australia.
The comment is titled 'Why Australia needs to catch up on animal research transparency'. It argues that Australia's use of animals for scientific research should be more open to scrutiny and accountable.
The full text can be accessed at https://theconversation.com/why-australia-needs-to-catch-up-on-animal-research-transparency-27169
On August 1, 2013, Dr Monika Merkes, a social researcher and policy consultant based in Melbourne, who is a member of the Humane Research Australia advisory panel had a comment she had written in conjunction with Rob Buttrose, a philosopher and computer scientist, published on the ABC's comment site, The Drum.
Merkes and Buttrose are critical of the regulatory code supposedly protecting animals used for scientific purposes in Australia.
The full text of the comment can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/merkes-and-buttrose-animal-testing/4857604
Animals Australia, an Australian-based animal welfare group, has produced a fact sheet outlining the shortcomings of using animals for product testing, medical research and education. The paper also outlines alternatives to the use of animals.
The full text of this fact sheet can be found at http://www.animalsaustralia.org/factsheets/animal_experimentation.php
The National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th edition (2013) can be accessed at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/book/australian-code-care-and-use-animals-scientific-purposes-8th-edition-2013
The Code is a detailed statement of the regulations that govern the use of animals for scientific purposes (including product testing, medical research and surgical skills training) in Australia.
The attitude of the Australian Royal Society for the Protection of Animals can be read on the RSPCA's Internet page. The organisation notes that although these regulations 'vary considerably in the way in which... [they] are enforced and the standards of housing and care that are applied' by international standards 'animal care in Australian laboratories are generally considered to be high'.
The Society's Internet page can be accessed at http://kb.rspca.org.au/How-is-animal-research-regulated-in-Australia_8.html
Choose Cruelty Free is an Australian organisation that promotes Australian companies that do not test their products on animals or have components of their products tested on animals overseas.
A full list of the companies that do not animal-test can be accessed at http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/cruelty-free-list/
The United States Animal Research site gives a range of information and arguments in support of animals being used in scientific research.
This information can be accessed at http://www.animalresearchcures.org/typesneeded.htm
