Australian Greens slam government on animal welfare bill
Labor has refused to support the bill, despite having resolved to establish an Office at its National Conference two-and-a-half years ago, and the party’s bankbenchers are currently pushing for the resolution to be honoured.
Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt MP, who introduced the bill, said it was “disappointing” to see Labor backtracking on its support for the Office, and claimed that party was “all talk and no action” when it came to animal rights.
Australian Greens animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon will introduce the The Voice for Animals (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill into the Senate when it next sits and Rhiannon said that Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig would “struggle” to explain why his party would not back a bill which replicates Labor policy.
“The government is happy to talk the talk about animal welfare, but when it comes to establishing an independent watchdog for animals it will walk to the election empty-handed,” she said.
