Activist gag laws another attack on free speech and animal welfare

MEDIA RELEASE
16 June 2014

Activist gag laws another attack on free speech and animal welfare

Australian Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has accused Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce of using biosecurity as a cover to introduce "ag-gag" laws as a way to shut down scrutiny of animal cruelty.

"Instead of working with farming communities to improve animal welfare, Minister Joyce is trying to hoodwink the Australian people by citing biosecurity as a reason to introduce laws protecting perpetrators of animal cruelty," said Senator Rhiannon.

"Minister Joyce wants to punish people who expose cruelty to animals with harsher penalties than what covers those who commit the violence.

"Undercover investigators play an important role as their exposure of animal cruelty helps highlight the need for improved farming practices.

"The Greens will opposed any changes to legislation which protects people or companies that could administer animal cruelty," said Senator Rhiannon.

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