Commenting on a story on Lateline last night about cruelty to Australian animals in the Middle East, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

 “Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), the reported exporter of Australian animals that have suffered horrific abuse in Gaza, should have its export licence suspended until all investigations against it are completed.

The Greens have again called for an end to live exports after 174 Australian sheep died on an export cargo plane due to ventilation failure.

Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said: "These tragic deaths again highlight the risks the industry is prepared to take with animals. It shouldn't be underestimated just how much each of these sheep would have suffered.

In parliaments around the country and in the community the Greens are working hard to promote animal welfare and animal rights. We are very passionate about this issue because the well-being of so many animals rests in our hands.

I have always been very proud that the Greens are the only parliamentary party that has a specific policy on animal welfare. We also have animal welfare working groups active in our party.

Click the link below to download Animal Welfare: Greens Priority.

Lee argues for  whistleblower protection in response to a successful government motion demonising those who expose animal cruelty.

Senator McKENZIE: I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with concern that:

(i) the activities of vigilantes on private farm property, and the covert filming of operations, is trespassing and is illegal,

and

This is the letter I submitted to the Australian Financial Review:

The AFR
19 August 2014 

Dear editor,

 The assertion (Labor takes step to ban cruelty in cosmetics AFR 18 August 2014) that the Greens "End Cruel Cosmetics Bill" will "result in an unworkable mess" is incorrect. 

Greens welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has rejected Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce's attempt to shut down scrutiny of animal cruelty.

Animal welfare group PETA has released footage which shows sheep being punched, kicked and hit with electric shears and a hammer.

"Mr Joyce's attack on PETA is a crude attempt to avoid cleaning up farming practices," said Senator Rhiannon.

Coalition and Labor Senators have combined to prevent the Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon from speaking in reply to her motion to strengthen welfare regulation for live exports to Egypt.

After outlining why they supported the resumption of the Egypt live export trade, Labor and the Coalition Senators supported a gag motion to shut down all further debate.

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.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:30): I move:

That the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to Egypt) Repeal Order 2014, made under section 17 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997, be disallowed.