Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Good animal husbandry practices do not invite the need for whistleblowers. Extreme animal cruelty and neglect is occurring in Australia. These incidents are often witnessed and sometimes condoned by the perpetrators work colleagues, business operators and industry representatives. These people then become complicit in perpetrating animal cruelty by not reporting such abuse. Governments stand complicit with these people for allowing it to happen.

The Greens support enforceable, mandatory reporting, investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty, with legal protection for whistleblowers. The Greens are also calling for ongoing audits and investigations independent of industry interests. Animal abuse and neglect is never okay and should never be ignored or excused on any level. We should all support legitimate animal husbandry practices that do not perpetrate animal mistreatment that most Australians, farmers and non-farmers alike, abhor and condemn.