RECEIVE UPDATESAnimal Welfare
The ACT Greens believe:
1. animals deserve our consideration and respect
2. bio-regional approaches are required to manage native fauna, pests, and domestic and production animals
3. where we are obliged to assert control over animals, we should ensure the highest standards of husbandry and treatment practicable.
The ACT Greens want:
1. responsible care for and breeding of domestic pets with consideration for neighbouring species
2. a wide approach to tackling domestic animal neglect and cruelty through rehabilitation, re-education and counselling as well as legislative solutions
3. the restoration, extension and linking of native animal habitats to enhance biodiversity and prepare for climate change-driven animal migration
4. the use of humane, effective, and ecologically sustainable methods to control introduced and pest animal species
5. support for sustainable farming practices causing least impact on native animal habitat, and alternatives to intensive livestock farming
6. the use of animals for scientific research to be limited to situations where there is a clearly demonstrable benefit for human or animal health
7. where it is necessary to use animals for scientific research, the use of the highest standards of care, least cruel methods, and the fewest animals possible
8. animals being transported to be subjected to the least amount of distress possible.
The ACT Greens support:
1. implementing community education campaigns about responsible pet ownership, and the introduction of appropriate legislation
2. adequate and secure funding for organisations providing animal welfare services to the ACT community
3. compulsory cat containment areas in new residential areas and retro-fitted in areas where properties adjoin nature reserves
4. increasing the capacity of ACT policing to enforce the limited and safe use of fireworks
5. constructing mitigation measures such as wildlife underpasses or barriers in roadkill ‘black spots’
6. establishing a management plan for the humane and ecologically sustainable maintenance of Eastern Grey kangaroo populations in the ACT
7. developing an enforceable Australian standard for free-range animal farming practices
8. legislating to phase out battery egg production in the ACT by 2012
9. labelling of products listing animal ingredients and derivatives, farm production methods, and any animal experimentation and testing methods used
10. including animal welfare representatives on animal experimentation ethics committees
11. the cessation of surface poison baiting of feral animals in conservation reserves.
