I am really pleased to be introducing a bill that will ban the testing and sale of cosmetics (and cosmetic ingredients) that have been tested on animals.

It is disgraceful that an estimated 500,000 animals - mainly rabbits and rodents – are used each year around the world in tests of cosmetic ingredients or products. Alternatives to animal testing are widely considered to be faster, cheaper and more accurate.

The Greens are the only parliamentary party that has specific policies on animal welfare. Animals cannot speak for themselves so we are speaking up for them by working to end live animal exports, cosmetics testing on animals, cruelty in the racing industry, factory farming, and the destruction of habitat for our native species.

Economics Legislation Committee

26/02/2014

TREASURY PORTFOLIO - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Senator RHIANNON: There is growing interest in news that some food producers have been investigated and prosecuted for claims their products come from free-range animals. How many complaints, using free-range claims, have been lodged with the ACCC?

Mr Sims : A lot. Mr Gregson is looking up the answer. If we do not have it immediately we will get back to you on it.

MEDIA RELEASE
25 February 2014

Greens call on all state govts to follow ACT farm animal protection law 

The ACT historic law that bans battery cages for egg production and the use of sow stalls and gestation crates for pigs should be adopted by all state governments, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said today.

Senator Rhiannon said “The passing of the ACT Greens Animal Welfare (Factory Farming) Bill is momentous. This is a great day for farm animals and provides a model for other jurisdictions. 

Senator RHIANNON: Dr Grimes, these questions were submitted on notice in November last year, but I have not received an answer so I will ask them again. With regard to the funding of projects that promote kangaroo meat to consumers, what responsibility does the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation have to ensure its funded projects do not present a health risk to consumers?

16 January 2014
MEDIA RELEASE

Greens slam 4000 sheep deaths on ‘horror voyage’ and call for an end to live exports

The Greens have again called for an end to live exports after a report that 4,000 sheep died in half an hour last August on a ‘horror voyage’. 

It is believed the 4,000 sheep from West Australia died due to heat stress on a Livestock Shipping Services shipment to Qatar and the UAE. 

The 4000 sheep from West Australia died due to heat stress on a Livestock Shipping Services shipment to Qatar and the UAE. It is the worst animal disaster at sea in recent history and another damning example of how the government continues to fail animals in the live export trade. The only solution to end this horrific suffering is to put an end to live exports and rebuild our domestic meat manufacturing by moving to chilled box meat exports.

It has been a big year. While the election of the Abbott government is a serious setback, community action on climate change, public education, open and accountable government, and many other critical campaigns is resonating.

Greens leaflet on Voice for Animals campaign.

Click the link below to download the leaflet.