Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Rhiannon, Singh, Lazarus, Wang, Xenophon, O'Sullivan and Muir, move:

To That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the majority of Australians believe the use of animal testing to evaluate safety of cosmetic products and ingredients is unnecessary, and

(ii) the regulatory framework in Australia for chemicals, including cosmetics, is complex; and

(b) urges the Government to aspire to eliminate unnecessary animal test methods to evaluate safety of cosmetic products and ingredients.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

While the Senate is not blazing a new trail with this motion, 31 countries including the world's largest cosmetics market, the EU, have banned animal tested cosmetics. This is a small, positive step towards achieving the ban here. A public opinion poll conducted in May last year by Nexus Research on behalf of humane research found that 81 per cent of Australians want cruel cosmetics banned. A July 2014 opinion poll conducted by Roy Morgan Research showed that 'not tested on animals' was one of the top three features looked for by Australian female consumers when buying cosmetics. Now we need reform in Australia, the Greens End Cruel Cosmetics Bill 2014 is before the Senate. This is a way we can act on our aspiration to end cruel cosmetics and animal tested ingredients. I congratulate Be Cruelty-Free Australia and Senator Ruston for their work on this issue.

Question agreed to.